Dmitri Simes and Dmitry Drobnitsky say Washington may keep sanctions as leverage. Their comments are forecasts, not an announced U.S. policy decision.
Political analysts Dmitri Simes and Dmitry Drobnitsky say the U.S. Russia sanctions law could remain a source of pressure without being applied immediately. Their views appeared in an interview with KP.RU, summarized by Lenta.ru. President Donald Trump signed the law on September 18, Reuters reported.
Simes suggested the administration had sought legal authority without necessarily planning to impose restrictions at once. He said the sanctions threat could serve as leverage in possible Ukraine negotiations. He also argued that severe measures against Russia’s trading partners, including China and India, could push up energy prices and prove politically costly ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. This is the analyst’s assessment, not an announced White House plan.
Drobnitsky expects Washington to avoid major steps before the congressional vote. He doubts the United States would risk a broad confrontation with China, India and European countries that trade with Russia. Reuters has reported that the law authorizes the president to impose tariffs on Moscow’s largest trading partners. The experts’ comments relayed by Lenta.ru about possible exemptions and relief are not an official legal interpretation.
The interview also covers possible Russian responses. Simes called for maintaining an independent development course and avoiding escalation. Drobnitsky advocated speeding up technology-sovereignty projects and reducing dollar settlements with Eurasian partners. His view that foreign firms returning to Russia should pay compensation and localize production is presented as his proposal.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has separately said the administration is weighing trade-offs and possible effects of further sanctions. On September 11, Vladimir Putin criticized secondary sanctions aimed at countries defending their national interests. Lenta.ru’s report therefore presents two analysts’ forecasts, not a new sanctions announcement or a U.S. decision to impose measures.