Three prominent Russian political and academic figures have warned that U.S. President Donald Trump’s new sanctions targeting Russia’s oil sector, along with his decision to postpone the planned U.S.-Russia summit in Budapest, signal a potentially dangerous new direction in U.S. policy.
The three leading figures issued their warnings on RT on Oct. 24.
Ivan Timofeev, program director of the Valdai Club, noted that while the heavy sanctions already on the energy sector mean that the new sanctions on Lukoil and Rosneft will have little practical effect, the political message is what matters. The U.S. has resisted adding new sanctions since Trump returned to the White House, making the return to sanctions a “negative sign.” This policy shift “suggests that hopes for a political settlement in Ukraine are fading,” he assessed.
“Officially, the U.S. presents the measures as leverage for a ceasefire. But Moscow doesn’t make decisions under pressure. Russia’s position has long been clear: a ceasefire alone won’t solve anything—it would only deepen the crisis,” he added. “The Western hawks have managed to push Washington their way—but Ukraine will pay the price.”
Senator Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council, interpreted the sanctions as being consistent with Trump’s negotiation style: “turn up the pressure, and go into negotiations from what he sees as a position of strength.”
