Why are we sanctioning Russia?
Putin just sank a British cargo ship delivering weapons to Ukraine.
President Trump is probably increasing sanctions to pressure Putin to agree to a ceasefire at some point.
Putin is probably responding by saying that "normalized" relations with the United States would require lifting of sanctions. It's unclear if Putin is going to require "normalization" of relations with the United States as a condition of negotiating a peace deal with Ukraine, if President Trump plans to be the leader of the deal on Ukraine's behalf.
-PJ
A most excellent rhetorical question for the fish to which I bet that you will fail to get an accurate answer. /s
Getting close to washing our hands of the whole thing.