Russia Criticizes Trump for Continuing 'Bidenism' After Alaska Summit

Lavrov says new U.S. sanctions on Russian oil companies undermine Trump-Putin agreement to resolve Ukraine conflict.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused U.S. President Donald Trump of continuing the policies of the previous Biden administration, including extending sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine. Lavrov said this contradicts the agreement Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin reached at their summit in Anchorage, Alaska in 2025 to resolve the Ukraine issue.

Why it matters

The dispute over sanctions highlights the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Russia despite efforts to improve relations under the Trump administration. Economic cooperation with the U.S. is seen as crucial for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine, but the continuation of sanctions is undermining that process.

The details

Lavrov cited the extension of U.S. sanctions against Russia initiated under the Biden administration, including the freezing of its gold and foreign exchange reserves, as well as new sanctions imposed under Trump against Russia's two largest oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil. Lavrov said this went against the agreement reached between Trump and Putin in Anchorage to resolve the Ukraine issue, accusing the U.S. of essentially declaring "a goal of economic domination" through "coercive measures."

  • In August 2025, Trump and Putin met for a summit in Anchorage, Alaska.
  • A couple of weeks after the Anchorage summit, the U.S. imposed new sanctions on Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil.

The players

Sergei Lavrov

The Russian Foreign Minister who criticized the U.S. for continuing sanctions against Russia despite the agreement reached between Trump and Putin.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. President who reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to resolve the Ukraine conflict, but whose administration later extended sanctions against Russia.

Vladimir Putin

The President of Russia who met with Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska in 2025 and reached an agreement to resolve the Ukraine issue.

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What they’re saying

“This is pure 'Bidenism,' which Trump and his team reject. Yet they calmly extended the law, and sanctions against Russia continue to operate.”

— Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (TV BRICS)

“And having accepted their proposals, we seemed to have fulfilled the task of resolving the Ukrainian issue and moving toward full-scale, broad, mutually beneficial cooperation. But in practice, everything looks the opposite: new sanctions are imposed; a war is waged against tankers, as you know, on the high seas in violation of the Law of the Sea Convention; India and other partners are being pressured to stop buying affordable Russian energy resources.”

— Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (TV BRICS)

What’s next

The dispute over sanctions is likely to continue to be a point of contention between the U.S. and Russia as they try to make progress on resolving the Ukraine conflict.

The takeaway

The continuation of U.S. sanctions on Russia despite the agreement reached between Trump and Putin highlights the ongoing challenges in improving relations between the two countries, even as they try to work together to resolve the Ukraine crisis.