Washington, Oct 23 (UNI) 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, reports BBC.
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He called the sanctions package “tremendous”, and added that he hoped they could be swiftly withdrawn if Russia agrees to stop the war.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.
EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen posted on X that she spoke by phone to Bessent on Wednesday about “Russia’s lack of commitment to the peace process”.
She also praised a new sanctions package approved by the European union on Wednesday, which includes a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports.
Earlier this year, the UK and US also sanctioned major Russian energy companies Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas.
