Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed US sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies as “very important,” following a significant change of approach from the Trump administration toward Moscow.
In comments made to reporters in Brussels Thursday morning ahead of an EU leaders’ summit, Zelensky described the move as crucial as he reiterated that more pressure must be applied on Moscow to bring it to the negotiating table.
The US sanctions announced Wednesday targeted Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil and came as the US government called on Moscow to agree to an immediate ceasefire.
President Donald Trump had for weeks signaled he could impose penalties against Russia for its continuation of the Ukraine war, but failed to take major punitive measures until now.
