US President Donald Trump, after a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, made it clear he had no intention on putting pressure, much less harsh economic sanctions, on Russia, according to several officials briefed on the conversation, reports The New York Times.

Trump also made clear that he was pulling back from a commitment he made just a few weeks earlier to the leaders of France, Germany, and the UK to join an economic crackdown on Russia if it refused a cease-fire. “After Mr. Trump’s phone call with Mr. Putin last week,

White House officials said that sanctions on Russia had a poor track record and would not be in U.S. interests,” The New York Times added.