Friendship is friendship, but business is business, the well-known proverb says. New tariffs on Russian imports are already on the table with the White House. At first, it seemed Donald Trump’s administration softened its stance on Russia, but nothing should be taken for granted.

Earlier, the White House stated that Washington is poised to tighten sanctions on Moscow, potentially until the end of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Recently, journalists asked Donald Trump about the likelihood of new restrictions and tariffs against Russia. The US president responded that he was looking at many aspects.

On March 7, Trump announced that the White House is seriously considering new sanctions against Russia’s banking sector and other industries. Then, on March 9, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham stated that he plans to introduce a bill in the US Congress to tighten restrictions on Russia. According to Graham, such measures could push Moscow toward negotiations on the Ukraine conflict.