Trump extends Biden-era order targeting Russia, citing 'malign' acts
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The notice—titled "Continuation of the national emergency with respect to specified harmful foreign activities of the government of the Russian Federation" claims that Russia poses "an unusual and extraordinary threat to the US national security, foreign policy, and economy."
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Office workers walk at Moscow-City business district in Moscow, Russia, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov)
US President Donald Trump has announced the extension of a longstanding national emergency targeting the Russian Federation, continuing a sanctions regime originally introduced under former President Joe Biden in 2021.
The decision, set to be formally published in the Federal Register on April 14, keeps in place a framework that has been widely criticized by Moscow and others as an instrument of political pressure rather than genuine diplomacy.
The notice—titled "Continuation of the national emergency with respect to specified harmful foreign activities of the government of the Russian Federation"—claims that Russia poses "an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States."
It accuses Moscow of attempting to influence foreign governments, conduct cyber operations, and destabilize democratic processes in the West—allegations that Russia has repeatedly rejected as unsubstantiated and politically motivated.
"For this reason, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14024 ... must continue in effect beyond April 15, 2025," the document states.
Executive Order 14024, issued by Biden in April 2021, granted US authorities sweeping powers to seize assets and impose financial restrictions on Russian individuals and entities.
Over the years, its scope has been significantly expanded—particularly in 2023 through Executive Order 14114, which authorized secondary sanctions against foreign banks and companies accused of facilitating Russia's defense sector.
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Critics argue that the US is leveraging its financial dominance to coerce third-party states and global institutions into compliance with its geopolitical agenda.
Russian officials and allied commentators have condemned the measures as an abuse of economic power that undermines global trade norms and multilateral diplomacy.
The inclusion of sectors such as technology, manufacturing, and aerospace under these sanctions has also raised concerns about the politicization of global supply chains.
While Washington portrays the restrictions as a response to so-called "malign activities," Moscow maintains that they are part of a broader strategy to isolate and weaken Russia on the world stage.
