October 24, 2025

In a bold move, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced powerful new sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil. The goal? To squeeze Moscow and push it to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking at the White House, Trump said, "Today is a very big day. Look, these are tremendous sanctions. These are very big. Those are against their two big oil companies... We hope that the war will be settled." The sanctions come after long talks failed to bring peace. These actions hit Russia's energy sector hard, freezing assets and blocking financial dealings with these firms in the US, said the Treasury Department. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added, "Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire." He warned more sanctions could follow if needed. Trump criticized the ongoing conflict sharply, pointing out the heavy loss of life. "Last week, they had almost 8,000 soldiers killed. Many Russians and Ukrainians were killed last week. We think it's ridiculous, and we'd like it to end... It's almost four years... If I were president, it never would have started," he said. The President also explained why he chose this moment for tough sanctions: "I just felt it was time. We've waited a long time." NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised Trump for his peace efforts, saying, "The next big thing has to be Ukraine-Russia. NATO wants to help, essentially delivering on your vision of peace in Ukraine. I really would like to thank you for everything you are doing, including breaking the deadlock with Putin." On the military help front, Trump was cautious about sending advanced Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. He said, "The problem with Tomahawk... it will take a minimum of six months to a year to learn how to use them... We know how to use it, and we are not going to be teaching other people. It is too far out into the future." Meanwhile, the much-talked-about meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was postponed indefinitely, as per CNN reports. Despite this, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently had a "constructive" call about peace talks. But sources said differences remain strong, leaving the future meeting uncertain. With this new wave of sanctions and ongoing diplomatic efforts, the world watches keenly, hoping for an end to this brutal conflict.

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Tags: Donald trump, Russia sanctions, Rosneft, Lukoil, Ukraine war, Us treasury,