Trump Slaps New Sanctions on Russian Oil Giants

President Donald Trump’s administration has announced new “massive sanctions” against Russia’s oil industry aimed at pushing Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table and ending Moscow’s ongoing war on Ukraine, Aamer Madhani, Susie Blann, and Fatima Hussein reported for the Associated Press (AP).

The U.S. announced the sanctions as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was in Washington for talks with Trump. (Photo: Tecnicas Reunidas Facebook)

The sanctions against oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil followed months of appeals from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as bipartisan pressure on Trump to impose harsher measures targeting Russia’s oil sector — the economic engine that has allowed Moscow to sustain its war despite growing international isolation.

“Hopefully he’ll become reasonable,” Trump said of Putin shortly after the Treasury Department announced the sanctions against Russia’s two biggest oil companies and their subsidiaries.

“And hopefully Zelenskyy will be reasonable, too. You know, it takes two to tango, as they say.”

The U.S. announced the sanctions as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was in Washington for talks with Trump.

The alliance has been coordinating deliveries of weapons to Ukraine, many of which were purchased from the U.S. by Canada and European countries.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the new sanctions were a direct response to Moscow’s refusal to end its “senseless war” and an effort to choke off “the Kremlin’s war machine.” Bessent added that the Treasury Department was prepared to take further action if necessary to support Trump’s effort to end the conflict.

“We encourage our allies to join us in and adhere to these sanctions,” he said.