WASHINGTON – The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, in a major escalation of pressure aimed at forcing Moscow to negotiate an end to its war in Ukraine.
The announcement came just a day after President Donald Trump indefinitely postponed a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, citing frustration over stalled peace efforts.
“Every time I speak to Vladimir, I have good conversations and then they don’t go anywhere,” Trump said at the White House. “I just felt it was time. We waited a long time.”
The sanctions mark a sharp shift in Trump’s previously cautious approach toward Moscow. He had resisted similar moves, arguing that European nations must first stop buying Russian energy before Washington took tougher action.
A turning point in Trump’s Russia policy
While analysts say the immediate economic impact on Russia will be limited, the decision underscores a growing impatience within the Trump administration.
The president had positioned himself as a potential broker of peace between Kyiv and Moscow—departing from his predecessor Joe Biden’s pro-Ukraine stance—but is now adopting a harder line.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the sanctions were necessary due to “Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war,” accusing the targeted companies of bankrolling Russia’s “war machine.”
Rosneft and Lukoil together export about 3.1 million barrels of oil per day—nearly half of Russia’s total output, which accounts for around six percent of global supply.
The Kremlin dismissed the move as ineffective, insisting Russia was “immune” to sanctions.
Global reactions and ripple effects
The United Kingdom last week announced similar measures targeting the same two firms, while the European Union approved a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports from 2027.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who was in Washington when the sanctions were unveiled, praised the move as a “necessary step to keep up pressure on the aggressor.”
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed that sentiment, saying the US and EU actions sent “a clear signal across the Atlantic that we remain united.”
But not all major powers are on board. China condemned the sanctions, while India—one of Moscow’s biggest oil customers—is reportedly preparing to reduce its Russian imports, according to Reuters.
Kyiv welcomes the move
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has long urged Washington to tighten economic pressure on Moscow, welcomed the decision as “a good signal” and said a ceasefire could be possible if more countries followed suit.
The announcement came days after Zelensky’s visit to Washington, where he unsuccessfully lobbied Trump for long-range Tomahawk missiles capable of reaching deep into Russian territory.
Trump later said he had declined the request because the weapons were “highly complex” and required extensive training.
Meanwhile, Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least two people overnight, officials said, as fighting continued across eastern Ukraine.
The US sanctions come amid renewed efforts by Western allies to push for a settlement plan that would freeze current front lines, ensure the return of deported children, and establish a recovery fund for Ukraine.
But with both sides digging in, hopes of a breakthrough appear dim.
As Trump put it, “We’ll see if this gets things moving. I hope it does—but we can’t wait forever.”
