The US has announced new sanctions targeting Russia’s two largest oil companies – Rosneft and Lukoil – in an effort to pressure Moscow to negotiate a peace deal in Ukraine.
“Every time I speak to Vladimir, I have good conversations and then they don’t go anywhere. They just don’t go anywhere,” President Donald Trump said, after a meeting with Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte to discuss peace negotiations.
The sanctions announcement came one day after Trump said a meeting planned with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest would be shelved indefinitely.
Earlier Wednesday, Russia unleashed an intense bombardment on Ukraine that killed at least seven people, including children.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the new sanctions were needed due to “Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war”. He said these oil companies fund the Kremlin’s “war machine”.
“Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire,” Bessent said in a statement.
Speaking alongside Rutte in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump criticised Putin for not being serious about making peace and said he hoped that the sanctions would help force a breakthrough.
“I just felt it was time. We waited a long time,” Trump said.
He called the sanctions package “tremendous”, and added that he hoped they could be swiftly withdrawn if Russia agrees to stop the war.
Rutte also praised the move, saying it was “putting more pressure” on Putin.
“You have to put pressure, and that is just what he did today,” Rutte said.
The move comes as key differences between US and Russian proposals for peace became increasingly clear this week. Trump has indicated that a key sticking point has been Moscow’s refusal to cease fighting along the current front line.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US still wanted to meet Russia.
Last week, the UK slapped a similar sanctions package on Rosneft and Lukoil.
“There is no place for Russian oil on global markets,” UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves said while announcing the move.
Responding to the UK, Russia’s embassy in London said targeting its country’s major energy companies would disrupt global fuel supplies and drive up costs worldwide.
It also said the sanctions would have “a detrimental impact on the energy security” of developing and underdeveloped countries, adding “pressure only complicates peaceful dialogue and leads to further escalation”.
The two Russian oil firms export 3.1 million barrels of oil per day. Rosneft is responsible for nearly half of all Russian oil production, which makes up 6% of the global output, according to estimates from the UK government.
Oil and gas are Russia’s biggest exports, and Moscow’s biggest customers include China, India and Turkey. Trump has also urged these countries to halt purchases of Russian oil in a bid to put economic pressure on the Kremlin.
Trump’s move was praised by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who said the US sanctions are “strongly welcome”.
