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Ongoing story / Russia

The Russia-Ukraine war: sanctions on Russia and the fight over its frozen assets

Overview · reviewed November 14, 2026

The United States and European Union expanded sanctions on Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.[1][2] The measures restricted trade and finance, while governments debated how frozen Russian assets could help fund Ukraine.[3][4] Under President Donald Trump, US policy has included both threats of tougher economic penalties and a deal announced in October 2026 to buy Russian diesel, which Ukraine opposed.[5][6][7] That month Trump also waived sanctions on Russia, angering members of Congress.[8]

Read the timeline

Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

The measures restricted trade and finance, while governments debated how frozen Russian assets could help fund Ukraine.[3][4] Under President Donald Trump, US policy has included both threats of tougher economic penalties and a deal announced in October 2026 to buy Russian diesel, which Ukraine opposed.[5][6][7] That month Trump also waived sanctions on Russia, angering members of Congress.[8]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · monthly average of weekly shares (UTC)

Nov 2021: average weekly share 6% (left 1%, center 3%, right 1%), from 3 of 3 weeksDec 2021: average weekly share 7% (left 3%, center 3%, right 2%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2022: average weekly share 8% (left 2%, center 4%, right 3%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2022: average weekly share 31% (left 9%, center 12%, right 9%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2022: average weekly share 30% (left 9%, center 13%, right 8%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2022: average weekly share 22% (left 6%, center 10%, right 6%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2022: average weekly share 18% (left 5%, center 9%, right 4%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2022: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2022: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2022: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2022: average weekly share 6% (left 2%, center 2%, right 2%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2022: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 0%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2022: average weekly share 4% (left 2%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2022: average weekly share 2% (left under 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2023: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2023: average weekly share 4% (left under 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2023: average weekly share 1% (left 0%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2023: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2023: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2023: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2023: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2024: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2024: average weekly share 7% (left 3%, center 3%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2024: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksMay 2024: average weekly share 2% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2024: average weekly share 5% (left 2%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2024: average weekly share 4% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2024: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2024: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2024: average weekly share 4% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2025: average weekly share 4% (left 1%, center 2%, right 2%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2025: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2025: average weekly share 10% (left 3%, center 5%, right 3%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2025: average weekly share 8% (left 1%, center 4%, right 2%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2025: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2025: average weekly share 4% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2025: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2025: average weekly share 5% (left 2%, center 3%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2026: average weekly share 4% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2026: average weekly share 2% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2026: average weekly share under 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2026: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 1%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2026: average weekly share 4% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2026: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2026: average weekly share 4% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2026: average weekly share 12% (left 3%, center 5%, right 4%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2026: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 2 of 2 weeks, so far

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. Over more than two years each bar is a month: the average of that month's weekly shares, so the shape stays readable. The weekly table below keeps every week. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 13 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (105 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Nov 9, 2026 (so far)0011 of 474under 1%
Nov 2, 20262114 of 4711%
Oct 26, 20261113 of 4731%
Oct 19, 202616141242 of 4799%
Oct 12, 2026294531105 of 47622%
Oct 5, 202619392785 of 47918%
Sep 21, 202625613 of 4793%
Sep 14, 202615291660 of 48013%
Sep 7, 202636110 of 4802%
Aug 31, 202635412 of 4753%
Aug 17, 20260718 of 4642%
Aug 10, 20264228 of 5451%
Aug 3, 202678621 of 5374%
Jul 27, 2026610622 of 5614%
Jul 20, 20261157 of 5621%
Jul 13, 2026618933 of 5596%
Jul 6, 2026715628 of 5605%
Jun 1, 20262608 of 1864%
Apr 20, 20262103 of 1572%
Mar 16, 20261113 of 1782%
Mar 9, 2026211215 of 1669%
Feb 23, 20262204 of 1862%
Feb 16, 20261124 of 1782%
Feb 2, 2026511723 of 17713%
Dec 15, 20251015328 of 18715%
Dec 8, 20252507 of 1844%
Dec 1, 202567114 of 1778%
Nov 24, 2025610420 of 15313%
Oct 20, 202557315 of 1948%
Oct 13, 2025110516 of 1829%
Sep 15, 20250123 of 1912%
Sep 8, 2025610521 of 21410%
Sep 1, 20251157 of 1774%
Aug 25, 2025413421 of 19911%
Aug 18, 20250134 of 1912%
Aug 4, 20256161234 of 19418%
Jul 28, 20258151134 of 18718%
Jul 14, 20251222943 of 18423%
Jun 9, 20251225 of 1993%
Jan 20, 2025571022 of 22610%
Jan 13, 20250112 of 2281%
Jan 6, 202548315 of 2217%
Dec 30, 2024117422 of 19511%
Dec 23, 20240011 of 1921%
Dec 16, 20241315 of 2262%
Dec 9, 20240448 of 2084%
Oct 21, 20242417 of 1994%
Sep 16, 202445110 of 2095%
Sep 9, 202435210 of 2304%
Jul 8, 2024916328 of 18415%
Jul 1, 20241225 of 2132%
Jun 24, 20242237 of 2503%
Jun 10, 20241719844 of 24718%
Jun 3, 20241203 of 2281%
May 20, 202447314 of 2266%
Mar 18, 20244329 of 2464%
Feb 26, 202446313 of 2565%
Feb 19, 202420251156 of 23224%
Jan 15, 20241236 of 2233%
Dec 11, 20231315 of 2252%
Dec 4, 20231225 of 2172%
Sep 11, 20232529 of 2424%
Jul 17, 20231337 of 2673%
May 15, 20232417 of 2443%
Apr 10, 20230617 of 2543%
Feb 20, 2023314926 of 18414%
Jan 30, 202388622 of 19012%
Dec 26, 202223611 of 1637%
Dec 5, 20221113 of 1902%
Nov 28, 20221212832 of 18817%
Oct 3, 20221056 of 1913%
Sep 26, 202299725 of 18713%
Sep 19, 20223339 of 1845%
Sep 5, 202225714 of 1927%
Aug 29, 202273616 of 1938%
Aug 1, 202247314 of 2017%
Jul 18, 202247718 of 1919%
Jun 27, 20222327 of 1914%
May 30, 202218311261 of 18433%
May 23, 202256112 of 1956%
May 16, 2022713727 of 19014%
May 9, 2022511420 of 19310%
May 2, 202214231148 of 20024%
Apr 25, 202218323080 of 20439%
Apr 18, 202258114 of 1858%
Apr 11, 20221225 of 1923%
Apr 4, 202222391576 of 19140%
Mar 28, 202288622 of 18512%
Mar 21, 202215241453 of 19228%
Mar 14, 2022914831 of 18317%
Mar 7, 2022335336122 of 19463%
Feb 28, 202229263085 of 19743%
Feb 21, 2022345236122 of 20061%
Feb 14, 20221001 of 1951%
Feb 7, 20221016935 of 19418%
Jan 31, 20221708 of 2024%
Jan 24, 202210182048 of 19824%
Jan 17, 2022411318 of 18410%
Jan 10, 20222349 of 2005%
Dec 27, 20214419 of 1805%
Dec 20, 202176316 of 1938%
Dec 13, 20211337 of 1954%
Dec 6, 202199624 of 20612%
Nov 29, 2021615728 of 21813%
Nov 15, 202126210 of 2005%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Nov 9, 2026 · first reported · Headline from Financial Times

    Russian diesel exports double after Trump lifts sanctions, but US gets none

Background

Western governments threatened sanctions as Russia massed troops near Ukraine in late 2021. In November, Germany's energy regulator suspended the certification process for Nord Stream 2, a pipeline built to carry Russian gas to Germany, and gas prices rose.[9] The Biden administration warned of harsh sanctions if Russia invaded, and Group of Seven countries warned in December of severe consequences.[10][11] The pipeline faced further hurdles as tensions grew.[12]

Read the full background (5 more paragraphs)

The sanctions imposed around Russia's full-scale invasion developed in stages. On February 22, 2022, Germany halted the certification of Nord Stream 2.[13] After Russian forces launched the invasion on February 24, President Joe Biden announced additional sanctions, saying, "Putin chose this war."[1] The European Union also agreed to freeze the assets of Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister.[14]

Restrictions on energy imports followed. The United States banned Russian oil imports in March 2022,[15] and the European Union agreed to ban Russian coal in April and most Russian oil by the end of the year.[16][2] Russia cut off gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria that April.[17] Further US sanctions followed Russia's declared annexation of Ukrainian regions in September 2022 and the invasion's first anniversary in February 2023.[18][3] The United States and EU added more sanctions in February 2024, also responding to the death of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.[19]

Frozen assets raised a separate question: how to use Russian money to support Ukraine. At the Group of Seven summit in June 2024, officials worked on a roughly $50 billion loan backed by profits from frozen Russian assets.[4] In December 2025, EU leaders agreed to fund a 90 billion euro loan through borrowing after a plan to use frozen assets failed to win agreement.[20]

Donald Trump threatened new sanctions and soon after returning to the White House in January 2025.[5] In July he threatened Russia with steep tariffs, and in August he raised US tariffs on India to 50 percent over its purchases of Russian oil.[21][22]

A long-stalled US sanctions bill advanced in 2026. After Senator Lindsey Graham died, colleagues urged Congress to pass the bill in his honor.[23] The Senate took it up in July, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visiting the Capitol, and Trump signed it in September.[24][6] In October, Trump announced a deal for Russia to supply diesel to the United States. Ukraine objected, and energy experts questioned whether the deal would lower prices.[7] Russia then sent its first diesel shipment to the United States under the new import agreement, over Ukraine's protests.[25] Trump's decision that month to waive sanctions on Russia angered members of Congress, though no quick response emerged.[8] By late October, tankers carrying Russian diesel were heading to the United States, tracked by Greenpeace.[26] In early November, tankers carrying Russian diesel changed course, raising doubts about the shipments, after state and federal officials raised concerns about handling the fuel.[27] Oil Price reported that Russia had doubled its diesel exports but that none had reached the United States, with two tankers diverted and another in the North Atlantic without a declared port.[28]

Supporting stories (28)
  1. Biden imposes additional sanctions on Russia: 'Putin chose this war'
  2. In major blow, EU bans imports of most Russian oil
  3. US announces sweeping new Russia sanctions 1 year into war
  4. G7 Summit Opens with Deal to Use Russian Assets for Ukraine as EU's Traditional Powers Recalibrate
  5. Trump says he's willing to use economic pressure on Russia to end Ukraine war
  6. Trump officially signs Russia sanctions bill into law
  7. Trump urges change in Ukraine leadership
  8. Trump's decision to waive Russian sanctions outrages Congress, but no quick counter seen
  9. Gas prices soar as Germany suspends approval for Nord Stream 2 pipeline
  10. U.S. and Europe ready 'significant and severe' sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine
  11. G7 warns Russia of ‘massive’ consequences if Ukraine invaded
  12. Russian pipeline faces big hurdles amid Ukraine tensions
  13. Germany halts Nord Stream 2 and Russia responds with a stark warning
  14. European Union agrees to freeze assets of Putin and minister
  15. Despite high gas prices, US bans Russian oil over Ukraine war
  16. Europe agrees to ban Russian coal, but struggles on oil, gas
  17. Russia halts gas to 2 nations
  18. US hits Russia with sanctions for annexing Ukrainian regions
  19. US and EU pile new sanctions on Russia for the Ukraine war's 2nd anniversary and Navalny's death
  20. EU leaders agree on 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine after plan to use Russian assets unravels
  21. Trump threatens Russia with tariffs and boosts U.S. weapons for Ukraine
  22. Trump hits India with punishing 50% tariffs for buying Russian oil
  23. US Sen. Graham’s Russia sanctions bill sat stalled for over a year—now the Senate has the votes to pass it
  24. US Senate to vote on Russia sanctions bill in tribute to Graham
  25. First tanker of Russian diesel sets sail for the US in Trump's controversial deal with Putin
  26. Three Tankers With Russian Diesel Heading to US
  27. Tankers carrying Russian diesel change course, raising doubts about shipments to U.S.
  28. Trump promised Americans Russian diesel. Russia doubled its exports, and none of it went to the US

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 197 recorded updates

November 2026

  1. Trump promised Americans Russian diesel. Russia doubled its exports, and none of it went to the USHeadline from Euromaidan Press · 3 outlets
  2. Tankers carrying Russian diesel change course, raising doubts about shipments to U.S.Headline from PBS NewsHour · 8 outlets

October 2026

  1. Three Tankers With Russian Diesel Heading to USHeadline from Newsweek · 5 outlets
  2. First tanker of Russian diesel sets sail for the US in Trump's controversial deal with PutinHeadline from WFMZ Allentown · 28 outlets
  3. Wall Street Journal editorial board goes nuclear on Trump: ‘Putin’s best friend in the world’Headline from MLive · 3 outlets
  4. Trump Frames Potential Putin-Xi Meeting Around Denuclearization — Leaving Ukraine With No Seat at the TableHeadline from Latin Times · 21 outlets
  5. Trump's decision to waive Russian sanctions outrages Congress, but no quick counter seenHeadline from WFMZ Allentown · 4 outlets
  6. Trump faces bipartisan backlash over waiving Russia sanctionsHeadline from CBS News · 70 outlets
  7. Trump weighs easing restrictions on Russian and Iranian ‘shadow fleet’Headline from Financial Times · 6 outlets
  8. Wright calls Trump's diesel deal a peace incentive. Rubio says Russia would sell anyway.Headline from Axios · 14 outlets
  9. Trump gives Putin a hand in Russia’s economic war with UkraineHeadline from The Boston Globe · 3 outlets
  10. Ukraine hits Russian refinery as Zelenskyy says ‘we’re done’ with Trump’s energy truceHeadline from West Hawaii Today · 84 outlets
  11. Trump urges change in Ukraine leadershipHeadline from Arkansas Democrat-Gazette · 46 outlets
  12. Why Trump's diesel deal with Russia may not actually lower pricesHeadline from The Hill · 103 outlets
  13. Senators push the Trump administration to act swiftly on Russian sanctions to help UkraineHeadline from MyNorthwest · 9 outlets

September 2026

  1. Zelenskyy, at UN, urges leaders to keep choking Russia's revenues and impede its war effortsHeadline from Philadelphia Inquirer · 8 outlets
  2. Trump says Russia has lost control of its diesel industry, calls for end to Ukraine warHeadline from Union Leader · 6 outlets
  3. Europe lifts sanctions against two RussiansHeadline from France 24 · 10 outlets
  4. A sweeping US sanctions bill offers Ukraine new leverage on Russia, but enforcement loomsHeadline from MyNorthwest · 5 outlets
  5. Kremlin seizes Nestlé’s assets in Russia as crackdown on private business growsHeadline from KEYT Santa Barbara · 18 outlets
  6. Trump officially signs Russia sanctions bill into lawHeadline from The Hill · 64 outlets
  7. House tees up vote on Russia sanctions bill, but prospects for passage are uncertainHeadline from Philadelphia Inquirer · 7 outlets
  8. Zelenskyy urges more international pressure on Russia over civilian deathsHeadline from Philadelphia Inquirer · 6 outlets
  9. Norway seizes Russian ship to enforce $4.22 billion Ukrainian compensation claimHeadline from France 24 · 11 outlets
  10. Send Trump sanctions billHeadline from St. Louis Post-Dispatch · 3 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →