President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Moscow, threatening new “taxes, tariffs, and sanctions” to pressure Russia to end its war in Ukraine. While specifics remain unclear, Trump officials are exploring strategies to intensify the economic squeeze on Russia’s energy sector, the backbone of its economy.
The Biden administration had imposed sweeping sanctions on Russian oil and liquified natural gas, costing Moscow billions, but Trump’s team believes there’s room to escalate further. Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent has voiced strong support for targeting Russian oil majors, emphasizing sanctions that could cripple Russia’s revenue streams.
Options under consideration include stricter enforcement of existing sanctions, penalizing European and Asian entities dealing in Russian oil. Despite trade constraints, Trump aims to bring Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, confident that direct dialogue could yield results. Discussions with advisors and conservative think tanks are ongoing.
