Trump's U-Turn on Russia Sanctions: What's the Deal?

The U.S. president, Donald Trump, has shown a change of heart regarding sanctions on Russia. He's now open to signing a bill that imposes these penalties, but there's a big condition. Trump wants to keep the final say on any sanctions that get put in place.

The Bill and Its Targets

This news comes after Trump gave a thumbs-up to Republican lawmakers working on the sanctions bill. The bill targets countries doing business with Russia, especially those buying its energy exports. This is because Russia hasn't been cooperating in peace talks with Ukraine.

The White House's Condition

But here's the twist: the White House wants specific wording in the bill. They want to make sure Trump has the ultimate authority on any sanctions. Without this, Trump might not sign the bill.

The Bill's Status and Trump's Priorities

The bill has been on hold in Congress. This is because Trump has been more interested in putting tariffs on goods from India. India is the second-biggest buyer of Russian oil, after China.

White House Official's Statement

A White House official confirmed that Trump is now ready to back the bill. But they also made it clear that the president wants to keep control over the sanctions. The official said, "It's always been important to the White House and the president that there's a carve-out in the sanctions package that ensures the president has the ultimate decision-making authority on the sanctions."

Ongoing Talks with Russia

The White House is still talking to Russia about ending the war. But these talks haven't been in the news much. This is because there's so much else going on.