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Sanctions on oligarchs as Trump announces Russia talks
Summary
A look back at 13 February 2025, when Kyiv announced sanctions on prominent figures a day after Washington said it would open talks with Moscow.
What did Kyiv signal on 13 February 2025, just a day after the US president announced talks with Russia on ending the war? On that date, President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced sanctions against several oligarchs and other individuals, among them former president Petro Poroshenko, Viktor Medvedchuk, Kostyantyn Zhevago, Ihor Kolomoisky and Gennadiy Bogolyubov.
The sanctions were tied to suspicion of "state treason" and of assisting a terrorist organisation. They also concerned the targets' alleged role in undermining national security through unfavourable business deals with Russia.
The backdrop: a call between Washington and Moscow
On 12 February 2025, US president Donald Trump said negotiations with Russia to end the war in Ukraine would start immediately, after a telephone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin. As described later, the conversation was said to have lasted an hour and a half. It was the first direct exchange between the two countries' leaders since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Two announcements, one day apart
The two developments came on consecutive days: the US announcement of talks on 12 February, and the Ukrainian sanctions decision on 13 February. The sanctions decision addressed alleged business ties with Russia and national security, and it named a former president among the targets. The announcement from Washington concerned the opening of a negotiating track on the war.
Taken together, the two days show Ukraine's leadership acting on domestic security questions while a diplomatic process involving Washington and Moscow was being announced.
