Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have firmly denied reports suggesting that the United States is considering lifting sanctions on Russia as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Responding to recent media claims, both officials dismissed the story as completely false, emphasizing that there have been no discussions about easing sanctions. They reiterated that U.S. sanctions will remain firmly in place until Russia demonstrates concrete steps toward de-escalating the conflict and respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The controversy stemmed from an article alleging internal divisions over sanctions policy, but Rubio and Witkoff called the reporting inaccurate and irresponsible. They stressed that the U.S. position remains unchanged: any sanctions relief would be contingent on significant and verifiable progress in peace negotiations.
While the White House has not publicly commented, the administration continues to back diplomatic channels while maintaining a tough stance on sanctions, ensuring pressure remains on Russia to comply with international expectations.