Trump’s Hammers Forge Putin’s Sword

10th February 2025

3 minutes read

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump recently adopted a series of measures, some of which have played in favor of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Three key decisions by the Trump administration can be seen as victories for Putin: the executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), Attorney General Pam Bondi’s suspension of federal efforts to counter covert influence campaigns by Russia and other adversaries, and the Justice Department’s move to ease sanctions on Kremlin associates.

The ICC had issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him and Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova of the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children—an act considered a war crime.

Thus, the Trump administration’s decision to sanction the court eases pressure on the Russian president, according to Newsweek, which noted that Kremlin supporters welcomed Washington’s decisions amid speculation that they might benefit Moscow.

After hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Trump signed an executive order sanctioning the ICC, accusing it of conducting “unlawful and baseless actions” against the United States and Israel.

In May 2024, the Hague-based court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over the war in Gaza.

Following these U.S. sanctions, the ICC and 79 signatory nations condemned Trump’s decision, which could lead to financial restrictions and visa bans for anyone assisting the ICC’s investigations against U.S. citizens or their allies—potentially undermining international law.

However, Russia welcomed the move. The Moscow Times quoted a senior Kremlin official who described Trump’s sanctions as “great news,” adding that the ICC had become “too arrogant” and that Washington had now put it “in its place.”

In comments to The Moscow Times, an unnamed Russian diplomat called Trump’s decision a “gift to Moscow,” adding that it granted Putin, his team, and his security apparatus more freedom of movement when planning travel.

Last Wednesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued policy directives that could also have a significant impact on Russia. One directive dismantled a task force established under former President Joe Biden’s administration to sanction Kremlin insiders and seize their yachts.

Bondi stated that the policy aimed at freezing Russia out of global markets would now be redirected. She clarified that the task force would continue its investigations but would no longer operate centrally from the Justice Department headquarters. However, Reuters suggested that this shift could lead to a decline in targeting Russian figures.

Another directive issued by Bondi will halt federal law enforcement efforts to combat covert influence campaigns by Russia and other adversaries such as China.

However, these decisions are not necessarily good news for Moscow. Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, stated that the U.S. administration could increase sanctions on Russia to end the ongoing war.

The New York Post quoted Kellogg as saying that sanctions on Russia had been far less severe than they could have been and that there was room to escalate them.