The new US sanctions are no slap on the wrist – they’re a punch to the gut of Moscow’s war economy.
Oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil are the twin engines pumping money through Russia’s military veins.
Washington framed the bold move as a bid to “degrade the Kremlin’s ability to raise revenue for its war machine”.
Oil is Russia’s bloodstream, and the Trump Treasury just cut off the blood flow.
But every blow struck in the ring comes with the risk of self-inflicted pain, and there’s potential for collateral damage.
By squeezing Russia’s oil sector, the president is tightening the global market’s chest – and America’s own pump could feel the pressure.
The White House is gambling that the geopolitical payoff will ultimately outweigh the domestic sting.
Pic: AP
“These are tremendous sanctions and I hope they don’t last long,” Mr Trump said.
That mix of swagger and caveat summed up his approach – maximum pressure, but with an eye on prices back home.
Europe rushed to mirror Washington’s stance, adding restrictions on imports and tightening loopholes in shipping.
The EU was clearly signalling that it’s in Trump’s corner, that the Western alliance holds.
Trump: Putin summit ‘didn’t feel right’
‘Wasted journey’
On both sides of the Atlantic, they know that Moscow will seize on any disunity and slip through the cracks.
An Oval Office meeting with the NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte provided the diplomatic stagecraft.
Mr Trump repeated that he’d cancelled a planned summit with Vladimir Putin because he “didn’t want to have a wasted journey”.
Mr Rutte played the part of loyal ally, twice labelling the US president “the only one who can get this done”.
NATO chief: Trump-Zelenskyy meeting not a disaster
Earlier, Mr Rutte played down my suggestion that his visit indicated Trump’s meeting with Zelensky last Friday had been a disaster.
It wouldn’t be the first time Mr Rutte, who famously referred to Mr Trump as “Daddy”, has poured oil on troubled waters.
But it’s Moscow’s apparent refusal to accept Trump’s terms that has put plans for another summit with Putin on hold.
China’s diplomatic influence with Russia could give it some leverage when Mr Trump meets Xi Jinping for trade talks next week.
The US president’s sanctions are more than punishment – they’re a strategic gamble to corner Putin – but the margin of error is razor thin.
If energy prices surge or allied unity splinters, Mr Trump could find himself on the ropes.
