From India Tariffs to Direct Sanctions: US Escalates Pressure

The Trump administration has escalated its economic pressure on Russia’s oil trade, moving from indirect penalties to direct sanctions. After previously levying tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, the US has now sanctioned Rosneft and Lukoil directly.
This new, more direct attempt to cut revenues from Russian oil sales marks the first major sanctions of Trump’s new term. The administration is targeting what it calls the “Kremlin’s war machine” amid growing frustration with stalled peace talks.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the sanctions, blaming “President Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war.” He also issued a call for an “immediate ceasefire.”
The administration’s tougher line was also demonstrated by President Trump’s cancellation of a planned meeting with Vladimir Putin. Trump said the summit “didn’t feel right” and that negotiations were not progressing.
The US move was welcomed by European allies. The EU’s Ursula von der Leyen praised the “clear signal” of unity, as the EU readies its own 19th sanctions package, which will target Russian LNG and its illicit shipping network.