Surprise sanctions look to have ended Trump and Putin’s Groundhog Day | Pjotr Sauer

His patience exhausted, the US president has taken action that could bite, but is unlikely to alter Moscow's course in Ukraine

For once, a phone call with Vladimir Putin did not lead to a thaw.

By imposing sanctions on Russia this week, Donald Trump broke from his usual pattern of easing tensions with the Kremlin after conversations with the Russian leader, when threats of pressure often give way to talk of renewed dialogue.