‘Well-Targeted Decision’: Zelenskyy Says Trump's Sanctions On Russian Oil Giants 'Much-Needed'

Last Updated:October 23, 2025, 13:47 IST

Trump announced the sanctions earlier in the day, saying his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine war “don’t go anywhere.”

China voiced strong opposition to the new US sanctions imposed on Russia’s two largest oil companies (Reuters photo)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday thanked US President Donald Trump for imposing sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, calling it a “resolute and well-targeted decision."

Posting on X as he arrived in Brussels, Zelensky said the move was a “clear signal that prolonging the war and spreading terror come at a cost." He added, “It is a strong and much-needed message that aggression will not go unanswered."

Trump announced the sanctions earlier in the day, saying his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine war “don’t go anywhere." The US president had held off pulling the trigger for months but decided to act after plans for a fresh summit with Putin in Budapest collapsed.

His move coincided with the European Union’s approval of its 19th sanctions package, aimed at tightening pressure on Moscow more than three years into its invasion of Ukraine. The EU’s new measures target Russia’s fossil fuels by bringing forward a ban on the import of liquefied natural gas by a year to the start of 2027.

The bloc also blacklisted over 100 tankers from Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet" of ageing oil vessels and restricted travel for Russian diplomats suspected of espionage. The package was formally adopted on Thursday, just before Zelensky joined EU leaders for summit talks focused on reinforcing support for Ukraine and pushing back against Russian aggression.

US Sanctions On Russian Oil

US President Donald Trump announced sweeping sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, after expressing frustration that his peace talks with Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine war “don’t go anywhere."

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said, “Every time I speak with Vladimir, I have good conversations, and then they don’t go anywhere." He said the new sanctions were intended to send a clear message but added that he hoped they would be temporary. “We hope that the war will be settled," Trump said while addressing the press alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

The sanctions, described by Trump as “tremendous," came just hours after the European Union announced its 19th package of penalties against Moscow, intensifying pressure on Russia more than three years into its invasion of Ukraine. The latest EU measures also target Russian fossil fuels and aim to curb Moscow’s access to revenue that fuels its war effort.

Trump had delayed the move for months, saying he preferred diplomatic engagement with Putin, but the decision to act came after plans for a potential Budapest summit between the two leaders collapsed.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said late Wednesday that despite the sanctions, Washington remains open to dialogue with Moscow. “We still want to meet with the Russians," he said, underscoring that diplomatic channels remain active even as economic pressure mounts.

China ‘Opposes’ New US Sanctions On Russian Oil Firms

China on Thursday voiced strong opposition to the new US sanctions imposed on Russia’s two largest oil companies, saying the measures “have no basis in international law."

At a regular press briefing, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing rejects unilateral sanctions and called for dialogue instead of coercive tactics. The comments came a day after Washington sanctioned Rosneft and Lukoil over Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

Guo also criticised the European Union’s latest sanctions package, which included penalties against several Chinese companies accused of aiding Russia’s war effort. “China is neither the creator of the Ukraine crisis nor a party to it," Guo said, adding that Beijing opposes any moves that “harm the legitimate interests of Chinese enterprises."

News world ‘Well-Targeted Decision’: Zelenskyy Says Trump's Sanctions On Russian Oil Giants 'Much-Needed'

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