The US is imposing sanctions on the two largest Russian oil companies. Behind Trump's sudden impulse is the refusal of Russian President Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
For nine months, Donald Trump has avoided this decision. Since taking office in January, he has refused to impose additional sanctions on Russia. But he has finally decided to do so. “These are tough sanctions on the two oil companies. We hope they will not remain in force for long. "We hope the war will be stopped," the US president told reporters before his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
The sanctions are aimed at "Rosneft" and "Lukoil"
Trump also explained why he waited so long to impose the sanctions: He felt that now was the right time to do so.
The measures affect the two largest Russian oil companies, "Rosneft" and "Lukoil". They prohibit any economic activity with them. Recalling that Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to end the war against Ukraine, US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant justified the imposition of sanctions with "the lack of serious commitment from Russia" for the peace process.
„Good dialogue“ with Putin, but without result
Trump also announced that he had canceled the planned meeting with Putin in Budapest. The option of a high-level meeting did not seem “appropriate” to him, but such a meeting is possible later, he added, and once again expressed his disappointment with Putin: „If I have to be honest: The only thing I can say is that every time I talk to Vladimir, the conversation is good, but it does not lead to anything.“
Trump's change of course fits into the overall picture of twists and turns of recent days: first Trump spoke on the phone with Putin, then the American president announced that he would have another personal meeting with the man he actually considers his friend. But then the Kremlin chief shuts down and sends the White House in writing his well-known maximum demands for an end to the war against Ukraine, but refuses to immediately cease hostilities and begin negotiations - something that Ukraine and its partners in Europe, and in the meantime the American president, have long been demanding, recalls the German public broadcaster ARD.
After his conversation with Trump, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised him for the decision to impose sanctions on the two Russian oil companies: “The fact that the president told the two warring parties to stop everything up to the current defensive lines was absolutely right. As we know, the Ukrainians also want this. And the Russians clearly need a little more pressure to reach the same position. Sanctions against oil companies will help with this“, Rutte expressed his conviction.
The sanctions are only the first step, others will follow - “until we force the Russians to comply economically, or until they decide, this war is no longer worth it”, commented Republican Senator Marquan Mullin, quoted by ARD.
Overwhelming support for the sanctions bill
The new sanctions are the toughest measure against the Russian energy sector that the US has taken since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, refrained from such sanctions because of partner countries that continue to buy oil from Russia. American media reports that Trump has now also given way under internal pressure from his party. For months, there has been a joint bill by Republicans and Democrats that provides for aggressive and draconian punitive measures against Russia. The bill has such strong support in both houses of Congress that it will pass without a hitch. But Republicans have been hesitant to enact it for months because they don't want to limit the president's freedom of action with regard to Russia, ARD explains.
The new sanctions are woefully inadequate, says Republican Congressman Don Bacon. He thinks it's sad what President Trump is doing with Ukraine: “Two steps forward, then two steps back, and then two steps forward again. He's abandoning NATO and our allies, he's abandoning our Ukrainian friends. They want democracy, free markets, the rule of law. They want to be part of the EU and NATO, but we're abandoning them because they don't know what direction this president is heading."
According to Bacon, President Trump must finally take an unequivocal stand on the side of the attacked country.
The EU is expanding sanctions against Russia
Shortly before the summit, EU member states agreed to significantly tighten sanctions against Russia. The measure aims to further limit Russia's revenues from oil and gas sales: a complete ban on imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia will come into effect in 2027 - a year earlier than originally planned. It also includes additional punitive measures in the financial sector and trade, as well as restrictions on the freedom of movement of Russian diplomats in EU countries.