The United States has announced new sanctions targeting Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, in an effort to pressure Moscow into negotiating a peace deal in Ukraine.
The move marks a significant shift in President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, following his decision to indefinitely postpone a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest.
Trump said he had grown frustrated with the Kremlin’s reluctance to make progress on peace talks, describing the sanctions package as “tremendous” and expressing hope that it could be lifted if Russia halts its invasion.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the sanctions were a response to “Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war,” noting that the targeted companies help fund Russia’s military operations.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the sanctions, calling them a “good signal” and urging other nations to increase pressure on Moscow. He also met with Trump recently seeking long-range missiles, though his request was declined.
The sanctions come as Russian strikes continue to devastate Ukraine, killing civilians, including children. Meanwhile, European and NATO leaders have praised the US action, saying coordinated transatlantic pressure could push Putin toward peace talks.
Russia has dismissed the measures, claiming they will disrupt global fuel markets and complicate dialogue. The EU has also adopted new restrictions, aiming to phase out Russian gas imports by 2028, while the UK introduced similar sanctions last week.
Despite the escalating pressure, Moscow insists it will not withdraw from the Ukrainian territories it occupies, maintaining its demand for Kyiv’s troops to leave eastern Donbas.
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