- Trump said he hoped the sanctions would drive Russia toward peace talks
- the measures were necessary due to “Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war,”
- Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant after weeks without electricity
The United States has imposed new sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, in an effort to pressure Moscow into negotiating peace in Ukraine.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the move marks a significant shift in President Donald Trump’s approach, coming just a day after he indefinitely postponed a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest.
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Trump said he hoped the sanctions would drive Russia toward peace talks, but analysts see limited impact as Moscow dismissed them as ineffective.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the measures were necessary due to “Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war,” accusing the sanctioned companies of financing the Kremlin’s military operations.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the sanctions, calling them a “positive signal” and urging other nations to increase pressure on Russia to force a ceasefire.
Rosneft and Lukoil export over three million barrels of oil daily—about six percent of global supply—as Trump urges China, India, and Turkey to stop buying Russian oil, with India reportedly planning to cut imports.
The European Union is expected to endorse a related plan to convert frozen Russian assets into support for Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised the U.S. decision, emphasizing that “sustained pressure” could bring Putin to the negotiating table.
Despite the diplomatic tensions, fighting continues across Ukraine, with recent Russian strikes killing civilians, including children.
Meanwhile, power was restored to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant after weeks without electricity, easing fears of a potential disaster.
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