Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump sanctions Russian oil giants over Putin’s ‘refusal to end senseless war’
US president said he had good conversations with his Moscow counterpart but they ‘just don’t go anywhere’
Donald Trump has announced new sanctions on two of Russia’s largest oil companies over Vladimir Putin’s “refusal” to end his “senseless war” in Ukraine - the first such measures since he began his second term as US president.
The US Treasury said it was sanctioning Rosneft and Lukoil in response to Putin’s “lack of serious commitment to a peace process”.
It said the sanctions would “increase pressure on Russia’s energy sector and degrade the Kremlin’s ability to raise revenue for its war machine and support its weakened economy”.
The decision came after Trump cancelled a planned meeting with Putin in Budapest, telling reporters on Wednesday that it “just didn’t feel right to me”.
“Every time I speak with Vladimir, I have good conversations, and then they don’t go anywhere. They just don’t go anywhere,” he said.
Meanwhile, EU countries on Thursday formally adopted a 19th package of sanctions against Russia for its war against Ukraine that includes a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports.
Trump slaps
Russia’s biggest oil companies with sanctions over Ukraine war: ‘Now is the time to stop the
killing’
Russia bombards
Ukraine - but Putin still tries to salvage Budapest summit with Trump
Critics fear Putin
is ‘cynically using’ Melania Trump as she pleads with Russia to return kidnapped Ukrainian
children- Why Trump and
Putin’s latest summit has collapsed – and what it means for peace in Ukraine
What are the details of the 19th package of sanctions against Russia?
As a 19th sanctions package has been implemented against Russia, including new additions such as restrictions on the movement of diplomats within the EU.
“It's a significant package that targets main Russian revenue streams through new energy, financial, and trade measures,” the Danish rotating presidency of the EU said.
The package was approved by the 27 member states after Slovakia dropped its block.
"It targets Russian banks, crypto exchanges, entities in India and China, among others," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a post on X.
It includes a ban on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and will take effect in two stages. Short-term contracts will end after six months and long-term contracts after 1 January 2027, a year earlier than the Commission’s roadmap. It is part of the EU’s plan to completely phasing out Russian energy.
“The EU is curbing Russian diplomats' movements to counter the attempts of destabilisation,” said Kallas. “It is increasingly harder for Putin to fund this war.”
Why has the United States sanctioned Russia now?
The United States has announced fresh sanctions targeting two of Russia’s oil giants as American patience wears thin over the war in Ukraine.
The intent appears to be to push Moscow towards agreeing a ceasefire deal with Ukraine, after the Kremlin indicated its demands had not moved since the last time Trump and Putin sat down together.
Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he had called off a summit he had floated in Budapest over a lack of diplomatic efforts on Russia’s part.
“Every time I speak to Vladimir, I have good conversations and then they don't go anywhere. They just don't go anywhere,” he said.
EU countries moved in step, on Thursday formally adopting a 19th package of sanctions against Russia that includes a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports.
Zelensky welcomed the move and insisted that a ceasefire was possible.
'No territorial concessions' says Zelensky
After President Donald Trump is reported to have tossed aside maps of the terrain across Russia and Ukraine during talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky last week, the Ukrainian leader made his position on borders clear at a press conference in Brussels on Thursday.
Asked about the possibility of territorial concessions, Zelensky said: “No territorial concessions.”
Zelensky thanks Europe and Trump for sanctions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked President Donald Trump and the EU for imposing sanctions against Russia, at a press conference in Brussels on Thursday.
“We waited for this, it’s very important,” he said. “Russia has shown it does not want to stop this war. Kindergartens, civilians. We have to pressure them to stop this war. Sanctions, long-range missiles and financial support . Thank you for this unity. Thank you for this support.”
He added: “Ceasefire is still possible. We need more pressure on Russia for a ceasefire.”
At least 12 killed in explosion at Russian military plant
An explosion at a Russian military plant has killed at least 12 people with 5 injured, Russia’s Izvestia news outlet reported on Thursday.
Chelyabinsk’s governor, Aleksei Teksler said the incident had occurred in Kopeisk, east of Chelyabinsk, but did not name the plant.
Local media reported the explosion took place at the Plastmass plant, which is controlled by Russian state corporation Rostec.
Teksler said that the incident was not linked to drone activity. Russian investigators say that the matter is being investigated as a criminal incident.
EU formally adopts 19th sanctions package against Russia
Countries in the European Union formally adopted a 19th package of sanctions against Russia on Thursday.
This includes a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports.
The approval was delayed after Slovakia blocked its passage due to reservations. The country dropped its block on Wednesday.
New additions to the policy include a mechanism to limit the movement of Russian diplomats within the EU.
EU leaders to show support for Zelensky at Brussels today
European leaders aim to put on a show of support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Brussels today after a rollercoaster few days that saw Donald Trump announce and then back away from plans to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin.
At a summit meeting, leaders of the EU are expected to meet Mr Zelensky, reiterate backing for Ukraine's territorial integrity and agree to develop a proposal to use frozen Russian assets for a big loan to Kyiv.
Mr Zelensky will also receive a boost in the form of a new package of EU sanctions against Russia.
President Trump announced last week that he and his Russian counterpart would meet soon in Budapest, sparking concern among Kyiv's European allies, but the planned summit was later put on hold.
The US has hit Russia's major oil companies with sanctions.
Following a tense meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky at the White House last Friday, European leaders have been eager to show that Ukraine can still count on their support.
Russia says Ukrainian drone strike sparks fire at business in Ryazan
An unidentified enterprise in Russia's Ryazan region caught fire this morning after a Ukrainian drone attack, the governor said.
"Due to falling debris, a fire broke out on the territory of one enterprise," Ryazan governor Pavel Malkov said on Telegram.
"Operational services are working on site."Russia's defence ministry said its forces had shot down 139 drones overnight, including 14 of Ryazan region.