US President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on Russia’s top two oil companies, expressing frustration over unproductive talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the Ukraine conflict. In a coordinated effort, the EU has also enforced a new set of sanctions against Russia, including a prohibition on Russian liquefied natural gas imports, resulting in a notable five percent surge in global oil prices.
During a media interaction at the Oval Office, Trump mentioned that despite engaging in positive discussions with Putin, they have not yielded any progress. Trump voiced optimism that the punitive measures against Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil would be brief, emphasizing the desire for a resolution to the ongoing conflict. Standing alongside Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, he underscored the importance of the sanctions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lauded the US sanctions on Russia’s energy sector as a robust and necessary action. Zelensky expressed gratitude for the move and hoped for its effectiveness, highlighting the significance of Washington setting a precedent for other countries to follow suit with similar sanctions.
Russia responded by criticizing the new US sanctions, cautioning that they could impede diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine conflict, asserting their resilience against such measures. Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev labeled the United States as Russia’s adversary and condemned Trump’s recent actions regarding Ukraine as tantamount to a declaration of war against Russia.
Meanwhile, China expressed opposition to the US sanctions imposed on the two major Russian oil companies, emphasizing a neutral stance on the conflict. Chinese officials stressed the importance of dialogue and negotiations to resolve the Ukraine crisis. Additionally, China criticized the EU for including Chinese companies in the sanctions, asserting that Beijing was not involved in the Ukraine crisis and urging the EU to refrain from making baseless allegations against Chinese and Russian business collaborations. China vowed to protect its interests through all necessary means.