The West questioned Trump's approval of new sanctions against Russia

US officials have developed a new package of anti-Russian sanctions to increase pressure on Russia, but it is unclear whether US President Donald Trump will support this initiative. This was reported on May 2 by the Reuters news agency, citing sources.

"US officials have completed the development of new economic sanctions against Russia, including measures in the banking and energy sectors, to increase pressure on Moscow and force it to support US President Donald Trump's efforts to end the conflict with Ukraine," the publication says.

It is clarified that Trump has not yet decided whether he should apply these sanctions.

The targets for restrictions, according to sources, include the Russian Gazprom corporation, as well as "large enterprises involved in natural resources and the banking sector."

Weimar public: EU and UK consider new sanctions against Russia

What did the leaders of the leading European countries come to at the next anti-Russian summit

On May 1, Bloomberg reported that 72 out of 100 members of the U.S. Senate supported a bill proposing to impose duties at a rate of 500% on goods from countries that buy Russian hydrocarbons, fuel and uranium. In addition, the draft prohibits operations with the sovereign debt of the Russian Federation (purchase of federal loan bonds).

On April 27, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the American side was not expanding sanctions against Russia in order not to interfere with the peace process on the conflict in Ukraine. According to him, Washington hopes that efforts for a peaceful settlement will work in a diplomatic manner to bring the two sides closer.