For the first time since Donald Trump's return to power, the US is ready to truly increase pressure on Russia with new punitive measures against its energy sector. The president has been wavering on the issue for months. Threatening with sanctions after particularly bloody bombings, or when Moscow launches thousands of drones over Ukrainian cities, only to backtrack and give Vladimir Putin extra time to make a move, which never happens. Saying that Ukraine has no cards to win this game, that it must give up territory, or that it can recover everything "and even go further." Empty words, contradictions, and little action. This time, however, something has changed in Washington, as seen yesterday with the indefinite suspension of the planned bilateral summit between the leaders of the two powers in Budapest.
"I just felt that it was time," Trump said from the Oval Office, seated next to the NATO Secretary-General, explaining why he chose to punish the two main oil companies of his historic enemy. "I canceled the meeting with President Putin because it just didn't seem right to me. It didn't seem like we were going to get where we needed to go," he announced about his decision. "All I can say is that every time I talk to Vladimir, we have good conversations and then they lead nowhere."
The US Department of State has imposed new sanctions on Russia "due to the lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine. Today's measures increase pressure on the Russian energy sector and reduce the Kremlin's ability to generate income for its war machinery and support its weakened economy. The United States will continue to advocate for a peaceful solution to the war, and a permanent peace depends entirely on Russia's willingness to negotiate in good faith," the State Department said in a statement.
Minutes earlier, its top official had hinted at it. "We will announce, after the market closes this afternoon or early tomorrow, a substantial increase in sanctions against Russia," warned Scott Bessent. "President Putin has not been as honest and frank as we would have liked. There were talks in Alaska, but President Trump withdrew when he realized that things were not progressing. There have been talks behind the scenes, but I think the president is disappointed with the current situation. So, whether tonight or early tomorrow, we will announce a substantial increase in sanctions against Russia. This will be one of the harshest sanctions we have imposed on the Russian Federation," he added in an interview with Fox.
Today's package targets Russia's two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, and nearly 40 of their subsidiaries, although the US does not purchase Russian oil. "As a result of today's measure, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above, located in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entity that is owned, directly or indirectly, individually or collectively, 50% or more by one or more blocked persons is also blocked."
Furthermore, the Treasury explains, "foreign financial institutions that engage in or facilitate significant transactions or provide any services related to Russia's military-industrial base, including persons blocked under Executive Order 14024, are at risk of being sanctioned." And here is the key. The US does little business with them, but the impact of the sanctions will depend on whether it actually applies secondary sanctions to Chinese banks, Gulf traders, or Indian refineries that keep the business of Rosneft and Lukoil alive after the disengagement of Western countries. Or to the Europeans themselves who continue to buy.
The country's Congress, now temporarily closed, has had a much broader sanctions package ready for months, led by Republican senators who are close allies of the president, but the leader has never given the green light. Until now, he had only chosen to put very strong pressure on Kiev, but much less on Moscow. Especially after speaking or meeting with Putin. But over time, even Trump has realized that the Kremlin is in no hurry or disposition to find a negotiated and quick solution to the war. And he is considering additional steps.
Trump has repeatedly urged the EU to further sever ties with Russia, especially its oil and gas, arguing that he would be ready to sanction if the Europeans distanced themselves even more. And now he has the opportunity.
Bessent's announcement, minutes before the visit of Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary-General, comes almost at the same time as the unofficial permission from Washington for Ukraine to use long-range weaponry supplied by European allies but originally purchased from the US. Thus, Ukraine used a Storm Shadow cruise missile, which entered from Britain, to attack a Russian plant in Bryansk that produced explosives and rocket fuel, as confirmed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff on their social media.
The Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth, has always been reluctant to this, and in fact, a few months ago he unexpectedly cut off the supply of weapons to Kiev, citing stock issues in the US. But the White House forced him to turn on the tap again, while transferring the responsibility to General Alexus Grynkewich, the highest-ranking officer in Europe and NATO commander, to authorize these ad hoc attacks. However, Trump has dismissed as "fake news" the reports published about this unofficial permission, saying that it has nothing to do with what Ukraine does or does not do.
"This is a war that would never have happened if President Trump had been president, something that President Putin himself acknowledged, and President Trump is trying to stop it. The president also negotiated a historic agreement to allow NATO allies to acquire American-made weapons," the White House said.
Hours earlier, Rutte spoke from the halls of the Capitol on the issue. "I have full confidence in President Trump, he is the only one who can achieve it, he is the leader of the most powerful nation in the world. All of you are citizens of the most powerful nation in the world, the most powerful economy, the most powerful military, and you have a president with a lot of experience thanks to his first term, and with a clear idea of how to end this war in a lasting and definitive way. He wants that. He wants to end the bloodshed. He wants to end the killings. Therefore, his leadership is crucial. He is exercising it clearly and he has to dialogue with all the leaders: he has to dialogue with Putin, he has to dialogue with Zelenski, just as he did with Gaza, pressuring all parties involved to reach an agreement. And that is exactly what he is doing here," he added, emphasizing the use of weapons such as missiles that can punish Russia hundreds of kilometers away.