The United States has imposed sweeping new sanctions on Russia’s top oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, in an effort to push Moscow toward ending its war in Ukraine, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday.
The decision represents Washington’s toughest economic measure in recent months and comes as Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities intensified, resulting in at least seven fatalities, including children, earlier that day.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the sanctions aim at crippling Russia’s “war machinery,” accusing President Vladimir Putin of his unwillingness to “halt this pointless war.”
“Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire,” Bessent said in a statement. He added that Rosneft and Lukoil provide key financial support to the Kremlin’s military operations.
“I just felt it was time. We waited a long time,” Trump told reporters after meeting NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House. “Every time I speak to Vladimir, I have good conversations and then they don’t go anywhere.”
European allies also expressed their approval of Washington’s decision. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper declared the US sanctions to be “highly appreciated,” while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen remarked that the action conveyed a “strong message” of solidarity across the Atlantic.
Von der Leyen stated that she had a conversation with Bessent regarding “Russia’s lack of commitment to the peace process” and confirmed that the EU was in the process of preparing its 19th sanctions package, which features a prohibition on Russian liquefied natural gas imports.
Last week, the UK introduced similar sanctions targeting Rosneft and Lukoil. UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves said “there is no place for Russian oil on global markets.”
Russia’s embassy in London condemned the measures, warning they could disrupt global fuel supplies and “have a detrimental impact on the energy security of developing countries.”
Rosneft, which accounts for nearly half of Russia’s oil output, and Lukoil together export more than three million barrels of oil per day — equivalent to about 6% of global production, according to UK government data.
The sanctions announcement followed Trump’s decision to indefinitely postpone a planned meeting with Putin in Budapest. The White House said a preparatory meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was also cancelled.
“The meeting was no longer necessary after a productive call,” a spokesperson said.
Trump has repeatedly endorsed a ceasefire that would freeze fighting along the current frontlines. “Let it be cut the way it is. Stop fighting, stop killing people,” he said earlier this week.
However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed that idea, saying Russia’s position “doesn’t change” and that Ukrainian forces must withdraw from the Donbas region.
Africa Digital News, New York
