(MENAFN) U.S. lawmakers have delayed further action on proposed sanctions against Russia, opting to wait until after an upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Republican Senator John Thune.

The announcement, made Monday, follows a phone call last week in which the two leaders agreed to meet in Hungary to explore solutions for ending the conflict in Ukraine. No specific date has been set for the talks.

Following the call, Trump signaled a shift in timing for new penalties. “At the moment we’re kind of hitting the pause button [on the bill],” Thune told reporters, as quoted by media.

The legislation under consideration would authorize the president to impose tariffs of up to 500% on imports from countries that continue to purchase Russian energy—a move squarely aimed at major buyers like China and India. It also includes a suite of additional economic measures intended to ramp up pressure on Moscow.

Despite securing support from at least 85 senators, the bill has stalled in the Senate since its introduction in April. Thune indicated last week that a floor vote might occur within 30 days, though media reported that Trump has been hesitant to allow it to advance.

While the European Union has moved aggressively to expand sanctions on Russia, the Trump administration has taken a more measured approach, prioritizing diplomacy over escalation. Trump has used the threat of sanctions as a bargaining chip to urge Russia toward negotiations.

After Thursday’s two-and-a-half-hour phone call with Putin, Trump described the exchange as highly encouraging. “Productive,” he said, suggesting that a peace agreement might be within reach.

The Kremlin, for its part, welcomed what it called the administration’s “genuine desire to find a peaceful settlement” and recognized U.S. efforts to “understand its root causes.”

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