Eleanor Finch
Russia and the United States have had a complex diplomatic relationship over the years, with several issues causing tensions between the two countries. The US and Russia have historically disagreed on several global matters, including the Ukraine crisis, cyberattacks, and interference in each other's elections. While the two countries have not formally severed diplomatic ties, there have been times when relations have been strained and confrontational. The most recent example is the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which led to international sanctions on Russia and further deterioration in US-Russia relations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of diplomatic ties being severed | Not severed as of February 2025, but described as being in an unprecedented crisis in February 2023 |
| Reason for tension | Russia's invasion of Ukraine, violation of international law in Ukraine, interference in U.S. elections, malicious cyber activities, and use of banned weapons-grade chemical substances |
| U.S. actions | The U.S. imposed sanctions on Russia, suspended mutual inspections under the New START treaty, and provided military and financial aid to Ukraine |
| Russia's response | Russia threatened to retaliate by withdrawing from the nuclear arms treaty with the U.S., seizing Western assets, and severing diplomatic ties |
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What You'll Learn
- The US and Russia were allies during World War II
- Diplomatic relations were interrupted after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution
- The US imposed sanctions on Russia for its actions in Ukraine
- Russia's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty led to the US suspending the Bilateral Presidential Commission
- The US has accused Russia of interference in its elections
The US and Russia were allies during World War II
The United States and Russia, then the Soviet Union, were allies during World War II, from 1941 to 1945. The alliance was marked by a great degree of cooperation and was essential to securing the defeat of Nazi Germany. The United States sent arms and equipment to the Soviet Union to help it defeat the Nazi invasion, even before the United States entered World War II in December 1941. The Lend-Lease Act of the United States supplied a total of $11.3 billion, or $180 billion in today's currency, worth of goods to the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1945. The Soviet Union played a crucial role in the Eastern Front, valiantly fighting and suffering staggering casualties.
The alliance between the United States and the Soviet Union during World War II was not without its challenges and complexities. Relations between the two countries had been strained in the years leading up to the war, with the Soviet Union signing a non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany in 1939 and occupying eastern Poland and Finland. However, the Nazi decision to invade the Soviet Union in June 1941 led to a shift in alliances, with the United States and the Soviet Union joining forces against their common enemy.
The cooperation between the United States and the Soviet Union extended beyond military collaboration. During the wartime conferences at Tehran and Yalta, President Roosevelt secured political concessions from Stalin and ensured Soviet participation in the United Nations. Roosevelt hoped that by including the Soviet Union in the United Nations, it would become an international team player and moderate its authoritarian regime. However, the alliance between the two countries began to unravel after the war as they faced complex postwar decisions, particularly regarding the Soviet Union's dominance in Eastern Europe.
In the post-World War II era, the United States and the Soviet Union became engaged in the Cold War, which lasted from 1947 to 1991. The North Atlantic Treaty, signed by the United States, Canada, and Western European nations in 1949, established the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which was designed to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. Despite periods of détente and cooperation, the Cold War saw heightened tensions and ideological conflicts between the two countries, with the United States imposing sanctions on the Soviet Union and vice versa.
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Diplomatic relations were interrupted after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution
Russia recognized the United States on October 28, 1803, and diplomatic relations were formally established in 1809. However, these relations were interrupted following the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. On December 6, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson instructed all American diplomatic representatives in Russia to refrain from any direct communication with representatives of the Bolshevik Government. This marked the beginning of a significant shift in the relationship between the two nations.
The United States' response to the Russian Revolution set the tone for the ensuing decades. American troops, specifically the 339th Infantry Regiment, engaged with Bolshevik forces, supporting the White movement in the Russian Civil War. This intervention was driven by Wilson's desire to facilitate the safe exit of the Czech Legion from Russia, safeguard allied military stores, exert pressure on the Germans, and foster self-determination for a democratic Russia. However, despite these efforts, diplomatic relations between the United States and the Bolshevik/Soviet governments remained strained.
The American intervention in the Russian Revolution created a sentiment that fueled the rivalry between the two countries. The United States, advocating capitalism, and the Soviet Union, promoting communism, became locked in a struggle for ideological dominance. This rivalry laid the foundation for the Cold War, which emerged after World War II. During this period, both nations sought to expand their influence and secure their position as global superpowers.
It is important to note that despite the interruption in diplomatic relations, the United States never formally severed ties with Russia. In 1933, the United States resumed formal relations with the Bolshevik/Soviet governments, marking a temporary reprieve in the tense relationship between the two nations. However, the underlying tensions and ideological differences persisted, shaping the course of global politics during the 20th century.
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The US imposed sanctions on Russia for its actions in Ukraine
The United States has imposed sanctions on Russia for its actions in Ukraine since 2014. In February 2022, US President Joe Biden criticized Russia's recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic as "the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine". In response, Biden announced sanctions against banks VEB and Promsvyazbank and comprehensive sanctions on Russia's sovereign debt. The US has also imposed unilateral sanctions on Russian entities through administrative action and legislation. These sanctions have restricted Russia's access to financing and technology in the financial, energy, and defense sectors.
In March 2022, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on several Russian individuals and entities, including the Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov. The US Treasury also sanctioned Russians connected to gross human rights violations and the corrupt leader of Belarus, Kremlin elites, leaders, oligarchs, and families enabling Putin's war in Ukraine. The US has also prohibited transactions with the Central Bank of Russia and imposed sanctions on key sources of Russia's wealth.
In addition to the US sanctions, the European Union and other Western countries have also introduced or expanded sanctions on Russia, targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, other government members, and Russian citizens. Some Russian banks have been banned from using the SWIFT international payments system, and there have been sanctions on exports and imports to and from the Russian Federation. The EU has also proposed sanctions targeting Chinese companies aiding Russia's war effort in Ukraine.
The US and its allies have strongly denounced Russia's actions in Ukraine, including the shelling and seizing of Europe's largest nuclear power facility. The US seeks to deter further Russian aggression and protect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The US has stated that it will take additional steps to impose further political and economic costs on Russia if necessary.
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Russia's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty led to the US suspending the Bilateral Presidential Commission
Russia and the United States have had a complex diplomatic relationship, with periods of cooperation and conflict. One notable incident of tension between the two nations occurred in response to Russia's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty in 2014. This incident led to the US suspending the Bilateral Presidential Commission, a joint body established to foster cooperation.
Russia's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in 2014 prompted a strong response from the United States. Russia's actions in Ukraine, particularly its occupation of Crimea, were seen as an aggressive violation of international law and Ukraine's rights as a sovereign nation. As a result, the United States took several steps to downgrade their political and military relationship with Russia and increase pressure on the country.
One significant action taken by the United States was the suspension of the Bilateral Presidential Commission. Established jointly by the United States and Russia in 2009, the commission aimed to promote cooperation and improve relations between the two countries. However, in light of Russia's actions in Ukraine, the United States suspended the commission as a strong signal of their disapproval.
The suspension of the Bilateral Presidential Commission was part of a broader set of sanctions and measures imposed on Russia by the United States and its allies. These sanctions targeted Russia's ability to access financing and technology in key sectors such as finance, energy, and defense. Additionally, the United States imposed unilateral sanctions on Russia through administrative actions and legislation. The combination of these sanctions contributed to a deep recession in Russia, highlighting the severity of the consequences for their violation of Ukraine's sovereignty.
The US response to Russia's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty demonstrated a commitment to upholding international norms and supporting Ukraine's independence. By suspending the Bilateral Presidential Commission and imposing sanctions, the United States sent a clear message of condemnation and sought to deter further Russian aggression. This incident marked a significant shift in the diplomatic relationship between the two countries and underscored the importance placed on respecting sovereign rights and territorial integrity in international relations.
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The US has accused Russia of interference in its elections
Russia and the United States have had a complex diplomatic history, with relations formally established in 1809. However, the two countries have often found themselves at odds, especially during the Cold War. While the Cold War ended without a direct military conflict between the two powers, the United States and Russia have continued to engage in complex geopolitical manoeuvring, with both countries imposing sanctions on each other in recent years.
In recent times, the United States has accused Russia of interfering in its elections on multiple occasions. The first instance of alleged Russian interference was in the 2016 US presidential election. The US government formally accused Russia of hacking the DNC's (Democratic National Committee's) computer networks and stealing emails from politicians and US groups, with the help of organisations like WikiLeaks. This interference was allegedly aimed at helping Donald Trump win the election. In 2018, a federal grand jury indicted 12 Russian military intelligence officers for their alleged roles in this interference. The indictment charged the officers with computer hacking conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, false registration of a domain name, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The US Intelligence Community concluded in early 2018 that the Russian government was continuing its interference efforts and attempting to influence the 2018 mid-term elections through social media disinformation campaigns. This pattern of behaviour persisted, and in 2024, it was reported that Russia was using Reddit and far-right forums to target potential Trump supporters in swing states, focusing on Hispanic voters and the gaming community. The United States publicly accused Russia of interfering in the 2024 election and announced countermeasures, including sanctions, indictments, and the seizure of web domains used to spread propaganda and disinformation.
The Russian tactics in the 2024 election allegedly involved recruiting right-wing influencers to create pro-Russia content. This led to YouTube removing several channels, and the abrupt shutdown of Tenet Media, a company implicated in the affair. Additionally, a declassified intelligence report in December 2023 assessed with "high confidence" that Russia had interfered in the 2022 midterm elections, building on its previous attempts in 2018. This report exposed a project called the "Good Old U.S.A. Project", which aimed to use fake online accounts and "sleeper groups" to distribute bogus news stories and reduce Western support for Ukraine.
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Frequently asked questions
The US and Russia first established diplomatic relations in 1809.
No, diplomatic relations between the two countries have never formally been severed. However, relations were interrupted following the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, and the US did not recognize or have any formal relations with the Bolshevik/Soviet governments until 1933.
The first bilateral treaty between the two countries was a consular convention signed in Moscow in June 1964.
Relations between the US and Russia have been described as being in an unprecedented crisis in the 2020s. This is due to a variety of factors, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine, interference in US elections, and malicious cyber activities.
Yes, in December 2023, Russia threatened to cut diplomatic ties with the US if Washington confiscated Russian assets frozen over the Ukrainian war.
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