The US Treasury Department announced sanctions on Russian energy groups yesterday Wednesday Rosneft and Lukoilblaming Moscow “lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine.”

“Given the president’s refusal (s.s. of Russia Vladimir) Putin to end this senseless war, Ministry of Finance (of the US) imposes sanctions on the two largest (Russian) oil companies, which finance the Kremlin’s war machine”emphasized Scott Bessent in the announcement made public by his services.

At the same time, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is imposing sanctions on subsidiaries of the two companies, including all entities owned 50% or more, directly or indirectly, by Rosneft and Lukoil.

The US Treasury Secretary added that Washington is willing to “take further action if necessary” and added how “We urge our allies to join us in adopting these sanctions.”

Earlier the Finance Minister had announced the imposition of “a significant package of new sanctions against Russia”, possibly late Wednesday afternoon.

The American president Donald Trump he also stated yesterday Wednesday that “hopes” how the sanctions announced by the US Department of Finance against the two major Russian oil groups will be short-lived and that will contribute to ending the war in Ukraine.

Speaking of “huge” sanctions, the American president said “We hope they won’t last too long. We hope that the war will end”the Republican told reporters during his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House.

At the same time, the American president criticized the fact that his discussions with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine they have led “nowhere”.

“Every time I talk to Vladimir, we have good talks, but then they don’t go anywhere,” he said characteristically.

As the news agency notes Reuters, Russia’s two biggest oil companies have been targeted in a US effort to hurt Moscow’s ability to fund its war machine, a day after plans for a Trump-Putin summit fell apart. Trump had told reporters he canceled the meeting because “neither side is ready for peace.”

The move marked a sharp turnaround for the White House, which has moved between of pressure in Moscow and tof adopting a more conciliatory approach with the aim of securing peace in Ukraine.

Just last week Trump appeared ready to avoid further actions aimed at Moscow. “Now is the time to stop the killings and for an immediate ceasefire”the US Treasury Secretary had stated, Scott Bessent.

Oil prices continued their gains after Bessent’s comments, rising more than $2 a barrel.

For months, Trump resisted pressure from US lawmakers to impose energy sanctions on Russia, hoping Putin would agree to end the fighting. But seeing no positive developments in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, he said he felt that “the time has come.”

The US president said, however, that he is not yet ready to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, which Kiev has requested. Speaking to reporters during his meeting with the NATO Secretary General Mark RutteTrump stated that the Ukrainians it will take at least six months to learn how to use them.

Ahead of the meeting he will have next week with the Chinese president Xi Jinping in South Korea, Trump said he would like to see Xi use his influence with Putin to stop the fighting, as the two leaders maintain a “strategic alliance” between their countries.

“I think he can have a lot of influence on Putin”he said, adding “we will definitely talk about Russia and Ukraine” with Mr. Xi.

Bessent confirmed that the US president has planned “one-on-one meeting” with his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea amid the trade standoff between Washington and Beijing.

The 19th package of sanctions against Russia was approved

Meanwhile, EU countries approved a 19th package of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine on Wednesday afternoon, the Danish rotating presidency announced, as Hungary lifted its reservations.

“We are very pleased to announce that we have just been informed by the remaining member state that they are now in a position to lift their reservations on the 19th sanctions package. Accordingly, a written procedure has been initiated for Council approval. If there are no objections, the package will be approved tomorrow (s.s. today Thursday) to 8 a.m. (local time)”is reported.