President Donald Trump’s latest tariff plan raised eyebrows this week—not for who was included, but for who was left out. Notably absent from the list of countries facing new trade tariffs was Russia, a decision that sparked swift backlash and speculation online.

Critics on social media quickly pointed to Trump’s longstanding praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin, questioning whether the omission signaled continued deference to the Kremlin.

In response, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified the administration’s position in a statement to Axios. She explained that existing economic sanctions imposed on Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine have already “preclude[d] any meaningful trade,” making new tariffs unnecessary.

Currently, U.S.-Russia trade has dwindled to just $3.5 billion annually—a sharp decline since the sanctions took effect.

Leavitt added that other heavily sanctioned nations, including Cuba, North Korea, and Belarus (a close Russian ally), were also excluded from the new tariff list for similar reasons.