Washington: White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt stated on Thursday (local time) that the new sanctions imposed by the United States on two of Russia’s major oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, were “appropriate and necessary.” This move reflects the US’s frustration with the slow progress in the Russia-Ukraine peace process.
Levitt said, “President Donald Trump has always said he would sanction Russia when he deems it appropriate and necessary. Yesterday was that day. The President has long expressed his frustration with Putin and with both sides of this war.”
A Push for Concrete Results
She added that peace talks can only succeed if both parties show genuine interest and action. While a potential meeting between Trump and Putin is not “entirely off the table,” the White House wants any such summit to yield concrete, positive results and for the President’s time to be used productively.
Levitt described the new sanctions as “quite severe” and claimed that India and China have already reduced their oil purchases from Russia. Additionally, the US has pressured its European allies to stop buying Russian oil. “These sanctions will certainly be damaging to Russia,” Levitt asserted.
Moscow’s Response: Sanctions Dismissed as an “Unfriendly Step”
Moscow has labeled these sanctions an “unfriendly step.” President Vladimir Putin stated that the measures would have a minimal impact on the Russian economy. He accused the US of repeatedly using sanctions to exert pressure and vowed that this tactic would fail.
“Any self-respecting country does not operate under pressure,” Putin said.
The U.S. Stance: Action Over Talk
Levitt emphasized that President Trump wants not just dialogue, but action and concrete outcomes. Citing the success of the US-brokered Middle East peace accord as an example, she stated that the President wants the Russia-Ukraine war to end swiftly.
