The Ukrainian ambassador to the US has welcomed the sanctions against Russia announced last night by President Donald Trump and added that Moscow understands only force, Agence France-Presse reported, BTA reported.
"This decision is in full accordance with Ukraine's consistent position that peace can only be achieved through force and by exerting maximum pressure on the aggressor through all possible means of international law," said Ambassador Olga Stefanyshyna, who is also a former prime minister of Ukraine.
Earlier, the US imposed sanctions on the two largest Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil over the war in Ukraine and announced that they are ready to take further action. Washington has urged Moscow to immediately agree to a ceasefire in Russia's war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.
The United States has imposed sanctions on the two largest Russian oil companies, "Rosneft" and "Lukoil", over the war in Ukraine and announced that it is ready to take further action. Washington has urged Moscow to immediately agree to a ceasefire in Russia's war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.
"Given President (Vladimir) Putin's refusal to end this senseless war, the Treasury Department is sanctioning the two largest Russian oil companies that fund the Kremlin's war machine," the official statement by US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant said. "We urge our allies to join us in enforcing these sanctions."
After the US measures were announced, oil prices immediately jumped by more than $2 a barrel. Futures for the "Brent" variety, which is the reference, rose to about $64.
The sanctions mark a significant shift in Trump's policy, which had not sanctioned Russia for the war and instead relied on trade measures, Reuters notes. Earlier this year, he imposed additional 25 percent tariffs on goods from India because of its purchases of Russian oil.
The US has taken similar actions against another major consumer of Moscow's black gold - China. In recent years, the $60 price cap on Russian oil, imposed after the invasion of Ukraine, has forced Russia to shift its oil exports from Europe to Asia.
Trump told reporters at the White House that he had canceled a planned summit in Hungary with Putin because he felt now was not the right time for it.