America has once again shown a tough stance against Russia and imposed new sanctions on two major Russian oil companies late on Wednesday night. This step has been taken in view of Russia’s alleged ‘lack of serious commitment’ to end the Ukraine war. President Donald Trump has imposed direct oil sanctions on Russia for the first time in his second term.
Trump, while sharing the statement of the US Treasury Department on his social media platform Truth Social, wrote that Moscow should immediately agree to a ceasefire. Let us tell you that just a few hours ago, the European Union had also imposed the 19th sanctions package on Russia, in which the import of Russian natural gas has been banned for the first time.
The two companies hit by US sanctions are Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia’s largest energy companies. According to US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, the Putin government is running this war on the basis of profits from oil exports, so this sanction is an attempt to stop funding of the war machinery. If necessary, more steps will be taken.
It is noteworthy that Trump is continuously claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured him that India will buy oil from Russia only in ‘very limited quantity’. During a program organized at the White House on the occasion of Diwali, Trump had said that India wants to see this war end soon and has already cut oil imports from Russia. However, the Indian government has not officially confirmed any such talks.
According to the information available, it has also been clarified that India is currently facing 50 percent US tariff, half of which is imposed as punitive duty for purchasing oil from Russia.
Here, there is doubt over the possible meeting between Trump and Putin. Recently it was said that the two leaders could meet in Budapest in the next two weeks, but the White House has made it clear that there are no such official plans in the near future. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, has indicated that the possibility of dialogue is not completely closed yet and the door to dialogue remains open.