The US has taken new and, so far, the most stringent economic measures against Russia - Washington imposed sanctions on October 22 against two major oil giants owned by Moscow. This was announced by the US Treasury Department.
The new restrictions will affect Rosneft and Lukoil. The official statement notes that the goal is to limit Russia's ability to finance military operations in Ukraine. The day the sanctions were announced came after the cancellation of the planned Trump-Putin summit between Moscow and Washington.
Donald Trump told reporters:
"This meeting didn't seem right to me. It was clear that we would not be able to achieve the desired result. Therefore, I canceled it."
Following this, Trump briefly commented on the sanctions:
"It was the right time to do this, that's what I felt," the US president said.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also stated in his speech that this decision is a response to Russia's "infidelity" in stopping the war:
"Now is the time to end the bloodshed and immediately declare a truce," he said.
According to Reuters, this decision marked a sharp turn in the Trump administration's policy. The White House has been hesitating in recent months between reaching a compromise with Russia or escalating pressure. Only a week ago, Trump advocated for not rushing to impose new sanctions against Moscow.
Following this, a sharp reaction was observed in the oil market - the price of a barrel rose by more than two dollars.
Trump believes the limits of the war have disappeared, and Moscow is not taking peace negotiations seriously. For this reason, he emphasized the need to take stricter measures against Russia. At the same time, he stated that he is not yet ready to provide Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles:
"Ukrainians will need at least six months to learn how to use these missiles," he said at a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
On the same day, he also expressed hope that on the eve of the upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, "Xi will use his influence to urge Putin to stop the fight."
The strongest sanctions
These measures are the largest pressure imposed by the US on the Russian energy sector since the beginning of the war. While during the Biden administration, Washington allowed allies to purchase Russian oil, now the Trump administration is directly targeting companies.
Atlantic Council analyst Daniel Tannebaum stated:
"These sanctions are a serious step, but to ensure effectiveness, the US must now apply secondary sanctions against third countries that maintain trade relations with Russia."
According to Trump, these measures are aimed at weakening the Russian economy and forcing it into peaceful negotiations:
"These are extremely strong sanctions. They are directed against Russia's two largest oil companies. We hope the war will end soon."
Response from Moscow and the Kremlin
In response to Washington's sanctions, the Kremlin also demonstrated its military might. The Russian Ministry of Defense released a video of the strategic exercises with the participation of Putin. It shows intercontinental missiles launched on land, in submarines, and in the air.
Experts believe this step served as a political warning to the West and Kyiv. At every decisive stage of the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin has made it a habit to exert pressure through signals of nuclear power.
The European Union also approved the 19th package of sanctions against Russia this week. According to it, the import of liquefied natural gas from Russia will be completely banned.
Sweden has expressed its intention to supply Ukraine with "Gripen" fighter jets. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv plans to receive at least 100 aircraft by next year.
EU leaders are discussing a plan to provide $163 billion in financial aid to Ukraine using Russia's frozen assets as collateral. Moscow assessed this plan as "open theft" and stated that it would take retaliatory measures.
The current situation indicates that the war is reaching a new level not only on the front lines, but also on the economic front.
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