US will not lift sanctions on Russia until there is an agreement on Ukraine

According to TASS news agency, on February 19, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed to US allies in Europe that US sanctions against Russia will remain in effect, at least until an agreement on Ukraine is reached.

A separate source told Bloomberg that Mr. Rubio raised this plan after he participated in negotiations with the Russian delegation in Saudi Arabia.

America’s European allies have expressed concern about Washington’s approach to Moscow, which has changed dramatically since the first meeting between US and Russian delegations on February 18. Senior officials from both sides met just a month after Donald Trump returned to the White House, while Ukraine and NATO partners were sidelined.

According to Reuters, Mr. Trump's hasty imposition of an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict has raised concerns that a peace deal with President Putin could undermine the security of Kiev and Europe, as well as change the geopolitical landscape.

“The disturbing reality is that Mr. Trump has taken Russia from a pariah to a valued partner in just a few days. That comes at a cost,” said Brett Bruen, a former foreign policy adviser in the administration of former President Barack Obama.

Even before the talks, European politicians criticized President Trump for giving Russia a free pass last week by excluding Ukraine from NATO membership and said Kiev was delusional in believing it could reclaim the 20% of territory now under Russian control.

The meeting between the two delegations saw Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov – two officials who have spent a combined 34 years in their current roles – negotiate with three of President Trump's aides in their first month in office – Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz and Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff, Reuters reported.

“The US delegation is made up of people with virtually no high-level international negotiating experience, no regional expertise on Ukraine and Russia, and no relevant diplomatic knowledge,” said Timothy Snyder, a Yale University professor and Russia expert.

Brett Bruen, a former foreign policy adviser in the Obama administration, described it as an "amateur moment" for President Trump's national security apparatus.

Meanwhile, Brian Hughes, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said: "President Trump has built a strong team that is now demonstrating his peace agenda through strength in action."