Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday lashed out at Washington over fresh US sanctions targeting Moscow’s oil giants, declaring that Russia would “never surrender to pressure” from any country. Putin called the move a “hostile act” that further strains Russia-US relations and warned of a strong retaliatory response if strikes within Russian territory were attempted.
According to Reuters, the Russian leader said, “This is, of course, an attempt to put pressure on Russia. But no self-respecting country and no self-respecting people ever decide anything under pressure.” He added that sanctions would not cripple Russia’s economy, stating that the nation’s vast energy sector remains resilient and self-sufficient.
Putin Warns of Energy Price Shock
Putin cautioned that disrupting global energy supplies could backfire on the US, triggering price hikes that would “make life uncomfortable” for Americans — especially during an election season.
Responding to reports that the US is providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles capable of striking targets up to 3,000 km away, he said, “If such weapons are used against Russian territory, the response will be very serious, if not overwhelming. They should think carefully before acting.”
US Sanctions Rosneft and Lukoil
Putin’s sharp remarks came a day after the Trump administration imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil corporations Rosneft and Lukoil to restrict Moscow’s war financing and pressure it to end the conflict in Ukraine.
The new sanctions, issued by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), also target several subsidiaries of the two energy giants. “These are tremendous sanctions big ones against their two major oil companies but we hope they won’t last long and that the war will settle soon,” President Donald Trump said at a White House briefing.
Rosneft, a state-controlled oil major, and privately owned Lukoil are cornerstones of Russia’s energy economy, with operations spanning refining, exploration, and global petroleum exports.
Trump’s Tariff Pressure on China and India
In his broader effort to undercut Moscow’s oil revenue, President Trump has also turned to economic leverage, targeting major Asian importers of Russian crude China and India with steep trade tariffs.
The US has imposed an additional 100% tariff on Chinese imports, taking total duties to 255%. India, meanwhile, faces 50% tariffs on several categories of goods. While China has threatened retaliatory measures, New Delhi has maintained that it will not halt Russian oil imports, citing national energy security as a top priority.
However, reports suggest Washington may reconsider its tariff policy toward India, potentially lowering duties to around 15–16% if New Delhi limits its Russian oil purchases.
Despite the growing list of sanctions and tariffs, the Russia-Ukraine conflict remains unresolved. Trump’s aggressive economic push a pillar of his second-term strategy has yet to yield any breakthrough in ending the war.
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