(MENAFN) US lawmakers have decided to delay further discussion of new sanctions against Moscow until after President Donald Trump’s upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Senate Republican leader John Thune said on Monday.

The two leaders agreed during a phone call last week to meet in Hungary on an unspecified date to discuss potential steps toward resolving the Ukraine conflict. Following the call, Trump stated that now is “not the best time” to move ahead with additional sanctions on Russia.

“At the moment, we’re kind of hitting the pause button [on the bill],” Thune told reporters, according to Bloomberg.

The proposed legislation would authorize Trump to impose tariffs of up to 500% on imports from countries that continue purchasing Russian energy — a move primarily targeting major buyers like China and India — along with other economic restrictions.

Despite backing from at least 85 of the 100 senators, the bill has remained stalled in the Senate since its introduction in April. Thune previously indicated that a vote might occur within 30 days, but Bloomberg reported that Trump has so far resisted allowing it to proceed.

While the European Union has tightened its sanctions against Moscow, Washington has taken a more cautious stance under Trump, prioritizing diplomacy over escalation and using the threat of sanctions as leverage to encourage peace negotiations.

After his two-and-a-half-hour phone call with Putin on Thursday, Trump described the conversation as “productive,” expressing optimism that a peace deal could be reached soon.

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