Washington and its European allies are sending a “clear signal” of unified pressure on Vladimir Putin, with the US sanctioning Russia’s top oil firms and the EU preparing a new package of restrictions.
The Trump administration targeted Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia’s two largest oil companies, in its first major sanction of the new term. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the move was necessary given Putin’s “refusal to end this senseless war.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen immediately praised the decision. “With the imminent adoption of the EU’s 19th [sanctions] package, this is a clear signal from both sides of the Atlantic that we will keep up collective pressure on the aggressor,” she wrote.
The EU’s new package is expected to ban Russian LNG imports and target the “shadow fleet” of oil tankers Russia uses to skirt price caps. This follows the UK’s decision last week to sanction both Rosneft and Lukoil.
The coordinated economic pressure comes as high-level talks have collapsed. President Trump announced he had cancelled a planned summit with Putin, signaling a breakdown in negotiations.
