02-28-2025

Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to Ukraine

NoticeView the Original .pdf
View the Original .pdf

The 1-Minute Brief

What: This executive notice extends for one year the national emergency concerning the threat posed by Russia's actions against Ukraine. This continuation preserves the President's authority to impose economic sanctions and other restrictions against individuals and entities undermining Ukrainian sovereignty.

Money: The notice itself does not appropriate new funds. Its financial impact comes from authorizing the continuation of broad economic sanctions against Russia, which have affected global markets and led to significant economic costs for both Russia and its trading partners. This includes freezing assets, restricting financial transactions, and limiting trade in key sectors.

Your Impact: For the average American, the direct impact is minimal. However, the sanctions this order continues can have indirect effects, such as contributing to fluctuations in global energy and food prices, as both Russia and Ukraine are major commodity exporters.

Status: This is an executive action that was published in the Federal Register on February 28, 2025, and is currently in effect.

What's Actually in the Notice

This executive notice is a formal continuation of a national emergency originally declared by the President on March 6, 2014. The continuation is required by the National Emergencies Act, which mandates that such emergencies must be periodically reviewed and extended to remain in effect. By extending the emergency, the President ensures that the legal framework for a wide range of sanctions against the Russian Federation remains active.

Core Provisions:

  • The national emergency, first established by Executive Order 13660, is formally continued for 1 year beyond its March 6, 2025, expiration date.
  • This action keeps in force the authorities granted by a series of subsequent executive orders that expanded the scope of sanctions in response to Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, its 2022 full-scale invasion, and other hostile acts.
  • The legal basis for these actions is the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which allows the President to regulate commerce in response to foreign threats.

Stated Purpose (from the White House):

The notice states that the continuation is necessary because "The actions and policies addressed in these Executive Orders continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States."

  1. The stated goal is to counter threats to Ukraine's democratic processes, peace, security, and territorial integrity.
  2. It also aims to address the misappropriation of Ukrainian assets and Russia's broader actions that undermine stability in the region.

Key Facts:

Affected Sectors: Finance, Energy, Defense, Technology, and International Trade.
Timeline: The extension is effective for one year starting from March 6, 2025.
Scope: The emergency declaration and the sanctions it authorizes are international, targeting the government of the Russian Federation, as well as specific individuals and companies deemed complicit in threatening Ukraine.

The Backstory: How We Got Here

Timeline of Events:

The Initial Invasion and Sanctions (2014-2021):

Following the ousting of a pro-Russian president in Ukraine, the Russian Federation invaded and annexed the Crimean Peninsula in March 2014. In response, the U.S. declared a national emergency to deal with the threat.

  • March 6, 2014: President Obama issued Executive Order 13660, declaring a national emergency and authorizing sanctions on those undermining Ukrainian stability.
  • March 16-20, 2014: Executive Orders 13661 and 13662 expanded the emergency to officially include the actions of the Russian government and its purported annexation of Crimea.
  • December 19, 2014: Executive Order 13685 imposed a sweeping ban on U.S. trade and investment in the Russian-occupied Crimea region.

The Full-Scale Invasion and Escalation (2022-Present):

After years of simmering conflict, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, dramatically escalating the war. This led to a significant expansion of the national emergency and the corresponding sanctions.

  • February 21, 2022: Just before the invasion, President Biden issued Executive Order 14065, further expanding the emergency's scope after Russia recognized the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.
  • February 27, 2025: The White House issued the current notice, continuing the emergency for another year, citing the ongoing threat to U.S. foreign policy and national security.

Why Now? The Political Calculus:

  • The National Emergencies Act requires the President to actively extend an emergency each year, otherwise it automatically terminates. This notice is a procedural necessity to maintain existing sanctions.
  • Allowing the emergency to expire would effectively dismantle the entire U.S. sanctions regime against Russia over its actions in Ukraine. This would be a radical policy shift, signaling a withdrawal of U.S. pressure and a major victory for Moscow.
  • With the war ongoing, maintaining these sanctions is a core component of the administration's foreign policy to support Ukraine and impose costs on Russia for its aggression.

Your Real-World Impact

The Direct Answer: This action primarily affects industries and individuals involved in international finance and trade with Russia, while most Americans experience only indirect effects.

What Could Change for You:

Potential Benefits:

  • The intended benefit is strategic: deterring further Russian aggression, which supporters argue protects U.S. national security interests and promotes global stability.
  • Upholding the sanctions regime reassures allies like NATO members that the U.S. remains committed to collective security.

Possible Disruptions or Costs:

Short-term (Ongoing):

  • Sanctions on Russia, a major global supplier of oil and gas, can contribute to volatility in energy prices, affecting costs at the gas pump for American consumers.
  • Restrictions on trade with both Russia and Ukraine, major agricultural exporters, can impact global food supply chains and contribute to higher food prices.

Long-term:

  • Prolonged economic conflict with a major power like Russia could encourage other nations to reduce their reliance on the U.S. dollar, potentially affecting its central role in the global economy over time.

Who's Most Affected:

Primary Groups: U.S. financial institutions, tech companies, and energy firms are prohibited from doing business with a wide array of Russian entities. Russian individuals and companies on the sanctions list are cut off from the U.S. financial system.
Secondary Groups: U.S. consumers may experience higher prices for energy and some imported goods.
Regional Impact: States with significant energy production sectors, like Texas and North Dakota, may see economic effects from shifts in global oil prices.

Bottom Line: While this notice keeps in place a powerful foreign policy tool, its main tangible impact on most citizens is its potential contribution to inflation and price instability for key commodities.

Where the Parties Stand

Republican Position: "A Divided Approach"

Core Stance: The Republican party is split, with no single unified position on the Ukraine conflict and the associated sanctions.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ A significant portion of the party, particularly traditional conservatives and defense hawks, strongly supports maintaining pressure on Russia, viewing it as a primary geopolitical adversary.
  • ⚠️ Many Republicans tie their support for Ukraine aid and sanctions to other policy demands, most notably enhanced security measures at the U.S.-Mexico border.
  • ✗ A vocal and influential wing of the party, often aligned with an "America First" foreign policy, argues that the U.S. provides too much support to Ukraine and should prioritize domestic issues. They express skepticism about the effectiveness of sanctions and the level of U.S. involvement.

Legislative Strategy: The party's strategy is fragmented. Some members advocate for robust support and continued sanctions, while others attempt to block or reduce funding for Ukraine and question the long-term strategic goals.

Democratic Position: "Standing with Ukraine"

Core Stance: Democrats are largely unified in their support for Ukraine and for maintaining strong economic sanctions against Russia.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ Democrats broadly believe that supporting Ukraine is a moral and strategic imperative to defend democracy against authoritarian aggression.
  • ✓ They argue that holding Russia accountable is essential for U.S. national security and for the stability of the international order.
  • ⚠️ Some on the progressive wing, while supporting Ukraine, may voice concerns about the risk of military escalation and the immense financial cost of long-term support.

Legislative Strategy: The Democratic strategy is to ensure the continuation of aid and sanctions, portraying support for Ukraine as a critical national security interest and a defense of global freedom. They often frame opposition as weakness or as bending to Russian interests.

Constitutional Check

The Verdict: ✓ Constitutional

Basis of Authority:

The President's action is based on powers delegated by Congress through two key laws: the National Emergencies Act (NEA) and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. § 1701): "[The President has the authority to] investigate, regulate, or prohibit... any transactions in foreign exchange... transfers of credit or payments... the importing or exporting of currency or securities... by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States."

Constitutional Implications:

Delegated Authority: The IEEPA explicitly gives the President broad powers to impose economic sanctions during a national emergency that originates abroad. The President is not acting unilaterally but using authority granted by a law passed by Congress.
Procedural Requirements: The National Emergencies Act establishes the formal process for the President to declare such an emergency and requires periodic review and active continuation, which this notice fulfills.
Federalism: This action falls squarely within the federal government's purview over foreign policy and international commerce and does not overstep into powers reserved for the states.

Potential Legal Challenges:

Legal challenges to this continuation are highly unlikely to succeed. For decades, courts have generally deferred to the executive branch on matters of foreign policy and national security, especially when the President is acting under an explicit statutory delegation of power from Congress like the IEEPA.

Your Action Options

TO SUPPORT THIS ACTION

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I urge [Rep./Sen. Name] to continue supporting the sanctions against Russia for its aggression in Ukraine."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Write a Detailed Email: Contact your representatives and senators to explain why you believe maintaining pressure on Russia is important for U.S. and global security.
  • Join an Organization: A wide range of organizations are working to support Ukraine.
    • American Coalition for Ukraine
    • United Help Ukraine
    • U.S.-Ukraine Foundation
    • Support Ukraine With Us
    • United Ukrainian American Relief Committee

TO OPPOSE THIS ACTION

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I urge [Rep./Sen. Name] to reconsider the current strategy of broad sanctions and seek a different approach to the conflict in Ukraine."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Write a Letter to the Editor: Submit a letter to your local newspaper arguing for a non-interventionist foreign policy or questioning the effectiveness and costs of the current sanctions strategy on Americans.
  • Join an Organization: While few mainstream organizations directly oppose this specific legal notice, some groups advocate for a broader shift in U.S. foreign policy that would include reducing the use of sanctions. Research and join organizations that promote non-interventionism or advocate for prioritizing domestic issues over foreign entanglements.