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

Active · last development Sep 23, 2026: “Zelenskyy, at UN, urges leaders to keep choking Russia's revenues and impede its war efforts”

What this arc covers

Western sanctions on Russia over the war and the fight over its frozen assets: the rounds of US and European sanctions, including those announced after Alexei Navalny's death, the price caps on Russian energy and the shadow networks Moscow uses to keep exporting it, and the push to use Russia's frozen central bank assets, or the profits from them, for Ukraine.

Photo from WFMZ Allentown, with Zelenskyy, at UN, urges leaders to keep choking Russia's revenues and impede its war efforts (Sep 23, 2026), the story with the most independent sources this week.

Earliest story we hold Jan 16, 2024 · 63 stories · 242 independent sources (counted once each) · 981 days

Part ofUkraineRussiaDonald TrumpMoscowVladimir PutinIndiaLindsey GrahamIran

Part of The Russia-Ukraine war

  1. The front line and the long-range strikesDec 27, 2023 – Sep 28, 2026
  2. Western weapons and aid for UkraineJan 3, 2024 – Sep 25, 2026
  3. The peace talksJan 10, 2024 – Sep 25, 2026
  4. sanctions on Russia and the fight over its frozen assetsThis arcJan 16, 2024 – Sep 23, 2026
  5. Ukraine's politics under martial lawJan 28, 2024 – Sep 7, 2026
  6. The Nord Stream explosions and Germany's case against Ukrainian suspectsFeb 7, 2024 – Sep 24, 2026
  7. Russian drones in NATO airspace and alleged sabotage plotsMar 21, 2024 – Sep 25, 2026
  8. The US-Ukraine minerals deal, from Trump's demand to the April 2025 signingFeb 3 – Apr 30, 2025

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Sep 23– 242026Zelenskyy, at UN, urges leaders to keep choking Russia's revenues and impede its war efforts10 articles · 8 independent sources
2 left, 1 center, 0 right
Sep 21– 232026Europe lifts sanctions against two Russians12 articles · 10 independent sources
0 left, 5 center, 1 right
Sep 212026Trump says Russia has lost control of its diesel industry, calls for end to Ukraine war6 articles · 6 independent sources
0 left, 1 center, 4 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Feb 23 – 24, 2024US and EU pile new sanctions on Russia for the Ukraine war's 2nd anniversary and Navalny's death59 articles · 39 independent sources
  2. Jun 9 – 14, 2024G7 Summit Opens with Deal to Use Russian Assets for Ukraine as EU's Traditional Powers Recalibrate87 articles · 47 independent sources
  3. Jul 4 – 9, 2024Putin Meets Indian Prime Minister in Russia on His First Visit Since Moscow Sent Troops into Ukraine49 articles · 32 independent sources
  4. Jul 14 – 15, 2025Trump threatens Russia with tariffs and boosts U.S. weapons for Ukraine73 articles · 46 independent sources
  5. Jul 29 – Aug 2, 2025Trump announces 25 percent tariff on India and unspecified penalties for buying Russian oil54 articles · 37 independent sources
    1. Jul 29, 2025Trump announces 25% tariff on India starting Aug. 1, unspecified penalties for buying Russian energy
    2. Aug 2, 2025India indicates it will keep buying Russian oil despite Trump's threats
  6. Aug 4 – 7, 2025Trump raises tariffs on India by 25 percent over Russian oil purchases57 articles · 37 independent sources
    1. Aug 4, 2025Trump threatens to ‘substantially’ raise tariffs on Indian goods as it continues to buy Russian oil
    2. Aug 6, 2025Trump raises India’s tariffs to a total 50%
  7. Sep 15 – 20, 2026Trump officially signs Russia sanctions bill into law95 articles · 64 independent sources
    1. Sep 15, 2026Two Democrats cross aisle to help tee up final vote on Russia sanctions bill
    2. Sep 16, 2026House approves sweeping Russia sanctions bill, sending it to Trump
    3. Sep 16, 2026House nears vote on Russia sanctions bill named after late Sen. Lindsey Graham
    4. Sep 16, 2026House passes Russia sanctions bill championed by Graham, sending it to Trump
    5. Sep 18, 2026Trump signs sweeping Russia sanctions bill, aiming to choke off funds for Moscow in Ukraine war

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Jan 2024Jul 2024Feb 2025Aug 2025Mar 2026Sep 2026

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Jan 15, 20241116
Feb 19, 202416189104
Feb 26, 202424217
Mar 18, 202433211
May 20, 202417220
Jun 3, 20240103
Jun 10, 20241015478
Jun 24, 20241127
Jul 1, 20240217
Jul 8, 2024510336
Sep 9, 202413010
Sep 16, 202423010
Oct 21, 20242418
Dec 9, 20240448
Dec 16, 20240105
Dec 23, 20240011
Dec 30, 202475424
Jan 6, 202515216
Jan 13, 20250112
Jan 20, 202556928
Jun 9, 20250215
Jul 14, 2025817968
Jul 28, 20255141050
Aug 4, 20254131150
Aug 18, 20250135
Aug 25, 2025312427
Sep 1, 20251158
Sep 8, 202548421
Sep 15, 20250123
Oct 13, 202515419
Oct 20, 202524315
Nov 24, 202545321
Dec 1, 202566118
Dec 8, 20251207
Dec 15, 2025812336
Feb 2, 2026310625
Feb 16, 20261125
Feb 23, 20261204
Mar 9, 202626116
Mar 16, 20260113
Apr 20, 20261103
Jun 1, 202605017
Jul 6, 202635235
Jul 13, 202659749
Jul 20, 202611410
Jul 27, 202648526
Aug 3, 202666323
Aug 10, 20260101
Aug 17, 202601110
Aug 31, 20261419
Sep 7, 202615114
Sep 14, 2026142313105
Sep 21, 202627421

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

24% left · 59% center · 17% right of 242 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 63 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. January 2024

  2. February 2024

    Feb 19– 23Biden announces over 500 new sanctions for Russia's war in Ukraine and Navalny death35 articles · 24 independent sources
    7 left, 6 center, 7 right
  3. Feb 20White House promises ‘major sanctions’ on Russia in response to Alexei Navalny’s death15 articles · 15 independent sources
    3 left, 3 center, 0 right
  4. Feb 21EU agrees on new sanctions against Russia days before the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine9 articles · 8 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 1 right
  5. Feb 23– 24US and EU pile new sanctions on Russia for the Ukraine war's 2nd anniversary and Navalny's death59 articles · 39 independent sources
    8 left, 11 center, 4 right
  6. Feb 27Yellen urges world leaders to 'unlock' frozen Russian Central Bank assets and send them to Ukraine11 articles · 9 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 1 right
  7. Feb 28Leaders should consider using frozen Russian assets to bolster Ukraine's military, EU's von der Leyen says7 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 1 right

  8. March 2024

    Mar 19– 22EU leaders endorse plan to tap frozen Russian assets to arm Ukraine12 articles · 10 independent sources
    3 left, 3 center, 2 right

  9. May 2024

    May 20– 25G7 officials make progress but no final deal on money for Ukraine from frozen Russian assets17 articles · 12 independent sources
    0 left, 6 center, 1 right
  10. May 23With Ukraine losing ground, allies debate how to squeeze cash for Kyiv out of frozen Russian assets7 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 1 right

  11. June 2024

    Jun 9– 14G7 Summit Opens with Deal to Use Russian Assets for Ukraine as EU's Traditional Powers Recalibrate87 articles · 47 independent sources
    10 left, 16 center, 4 right
  12. Jun 24The EU targets Russia's LNG ghost fleet with sanctions as concern mounts about hybrid attacks8 articles · 8 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 2 right

  13. July 2024

    Jul 4– 9Putin Meets Indian Prime Minister in Russia on His First Visit Since Moscow Sent Troops into Ukraine49 articles · 32 independent sources
    5 left, 12 center, 3 right

  14. September 2024

    Sep 13– 14U.S. hits Russian state media with sanctions for raising money for Moscow’s troops in Ukraine10 articles · 10 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 0 right
  15. Sep 20EU pledges to loan Ukraine up to $39 billion to help rebuild its economy and power grid11 articles · 11 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 0 right

  16. October 2024

  17. December 2024

    Dec 10– 11U.S. loans Ukraine $20B from frozen Russian assets8 articles · 8 independent sources
    0 left, 4 center, 4 right
  18. Dec 22– 23Russia’s Putin holds talks with Slovakian PM Fico, in a rare visit to Moscow by an EU leader8 articles · 8 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 1 right
  19. Dec 31– Jan 2Ukraine stops Russian gas29 articles · 25 independent sources
    7 left, 5 center, 4 right

  20. January 2025

    Jan 10Biden levies new sanctions against Russian energy sector, but it's up to Trump whether to keep them17 articles · 16 independent sources
    1 left, 5 center, 2 right
  21. Jan 17– 24Trump says he's willing to use economic pressure on Russia to end Ukraine war36 articles · 25 independent sources
    5 left, 7 center, 9 right

  22. June 2025

    Jun 14Zelenskyy warns oil price surge could help Russia’s war effort - Boston News, Weather, Sports5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 1 right

  23. July 2025

    Jul 14– 15Trump threatens Russia with tariffs and boosts U.S. weapons for Ukraine73 articles · 46 independent sources
    8 left, 17 center, 9 right
  24. Jul 29– Aug 2Trump announces 25 percent tariff on India and unspecified penalties for buying Russian oil54 articles · 37 independent sources
    5 left, 14 center, 10 right

  25. August 2025

    Aug 4– 7Trump raises tariffs on India by 25 percent over Russian oil purchases57 articles · 37 independent sources
    4 left, 13 center, 11 right
  26. Aug 18Trump adviser Navarro says India must stop buying Russian oil6 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 3 right
  27. Aug 27– 28Trump hits India with punishing 50% tariffs for buying Russian oil33 articles · 24 independent sources
    3 left, 12 center, 4 right

  28. September 2025

    Sep 4Trump urges Europe to stop buying Russian oil amid Ukraine War8 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 5 right
  29. Sep 13– 15President Trump urges NATO allies to stop buying Russian oil28 articles · 28 independent sources
    4 left, 9 center, 6 right

  30. October 2025

    Oct 15– 17Trump claimed India had agreed to stop buying Russian oil. New Delhi says it knows nothing about it24 articles · 19 independent sources
    1 left, 5 center, 4 right
  31. Oct 22– 23EU joins US in heaping more sanctions on Russia to push Putin into Ukraine peace talks19 articles · 18 independent sources
    2 left, 4 center, 3 right

  32. November 2025

    Nov 28Orbán meets Putin in Moscow to shore up Hungary’s energy supplies, making use of Trump exemption7 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 1 right
  33. Nov 29– 30Ukraine hits two Russian 'shadow fleet' oil tankers with naval drones16 articles · 15 independent sources
    3 left, 2 center, 2 right

  34. December 2025

    Dec 4– 5Putin and Modi announce expansion of Russia-India trade ties20 articles · 16 independent sources
    6 left, 5 center, 1 right
  35. Dec 4– 5Putin says energy ties with India remain 'unaffected' – DW6 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 1 right
  36. Dec 12EU Set to Lock Up Russia's Frozen Assets so Hungary and Slovakia Can't Veto Their Use for Ukraine7 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  37. Dec 17– 18EU leaders decide on whether to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's war effort12 articles · 10 independent sources
    3 left, 5 center, 0 right
  38. Dec 18– 19EU leaders agree on 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine after plan to use Russian assets unravels31 articles · 25 independent sources
    6 left, 7 center, 3 right

  39. February 2026

    Feb 2– 3Trump says he will cut tariffs on India after it agreed to stop buying Russian oil29 articles · 26 independent sources
    3 left, 10 center, 6 right
  40. Feb 21– 23EU fails to pass new sanctions targeting Russia due to Hungary's objection10 articles · 9 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 2 right

  41. March 2026

    Mar 13– 14US eases sanctions on Russian oil18 articles · 16 independent sources
    2 left, 6 center, 1 right
  42. Mar 19Hungary’s Orban continues to block Ukraine loan at EU summit5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 1 right

  43. April 2026

    Apr 21– 22Druzhba pipeline restarts Russian oil flows to Europe, unblocking E.U. loan for Kyiv6 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 0 right

  44. June 2026

    Jun 5House passes bill to aid Ukraine and impose new sanctions on Russia17 articles · 8 independent sources
    0 left, 5 center, 0 right

  45. July 2026

    Jul 10Bipartisan senators announce agreement with Trump administration on Russia sanctions11 articles · 11 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 1 right
  46. Jul 10– 17US Sen. Graham’s Russia sanctions bill sat stalled for over a year—now the Senate has the votes to pass it46 articles · 30 independent sources
    4 left, 9 center, 3 right
  47. Jul 12– 13Lindsey Graham draws tributes for his support of Ukraine, trans-Atlantic ties and Israel20 articles · 15 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 0 right
  48. Jul 12Graham makes final remarks in Ukraine a day before this death5 articles · 5 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 1 right
  49. Jul 14– 15US lawmakers unveil updated Russia sanctions bill spearheaded by late Senator Graham3 articles · 3 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 1 right
  50. Jul 19– 21Trump Urges Republicans to Add Iran to Russia Sanctions Bill to Honor Lindsey Graham9 articles · 8 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 5 right
  51. Jul 20– 22Editorial: Get Graham’s Russia sanctions bill to Trump’s desk8 articles · 3 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 2 right
  52. Jul 27– 29US Senate to vote on Russia sanctions bill in tribute to Graham30 articles · 25 independent sources
    4 left, 8 center, 5 right

  53. August 2026

    Aug 7– 10Bipartisan House members introduce Graham’s Russia sanctions bill25 articles · 23 independent sources
    6 left, 7 center, 3 right
  54. Aug 16– 18Top Russian economist replaced after warning of economic costs of Ukraine war13 articles · 11 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 1 right

  55. September 2026

    Sep 2– 4Norway seizes Russian ship to enforce $4.22 billion Ukrainian compensation claim13 articles · 11 independent sources
    1 left, 4 center, 1 right
  56. Sep 9– 10Zelenskyy urges more international pressure on Russia over civilian deaths7 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  57. Sep 10– 11House tees up vote on Russia sanctions bill, but prospects for passage are uncertain9 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right
  58. Sep 15– 20Trump officially signs Russia sanctions bill into law95 articles · 64 independent sources
    13 left, 19 center, 13 right
  59. Sep 17– 18Kremlin seizes Nestlé’s assets in Russia as crackdown on private business grows19 articles · 18 independent sources
    2 left, 5 center, 1 right
  60. Sep 17A sweeping US sanctions bill offers Ukraine new leverage on Russia, but enforcement looms5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  61. Sep 21Trump says Russia has lost control of its diesel industry, calls for end to Ukraine war6 articles · 6 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 4 right
  62. Sep 21– 23Europe lifts sanctions against two Russians12 articles · 10 independent sources
    0 left, 5 center, 1 right
  63. Sep 23– 24Zelenskyy, at UN, urges leaders to keep choking Russia's revenues and impede its war efforts10 articles · 8 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 0 right