The U.S. will announce a “substantial” new round of sanctions against Russia, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, signalling President Donald Trump is preparing to ratchet up pressure on Moscow a day after backing off plans for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin in the near future.

“We are going to either announce, after the close this afternoon or first thing tomorrow morning, a substantial pickup in Russia sanctions,” Bessent told reporters at the White House on Wednesday. He didn’t specify what the new measures would entail.

Bessent’s remarks nonetheless marked yet another shift in tone for the White House, which has veered back and forth between renewed threats to Russia and offering a more accommodating stance. After speaking by phone with Putin last week, Trump said he beli

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