Why Trump finally sanctioned Russia’s oil giants: Inside the breaking point with Putin

Trump sanctions Russia oil giants

It was a tense Wednesday afternoon in Washington when President Donald Trump turned to his top advisers and asked, “Do you guys agree with me?” According to officials familiar with the meeting, both Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said yes. Hours later, Trump directed the Treasury Department to impose sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia’s two largest oil companies—his toughest action yet against President Vladimir Putin since returning to the White House, the Wall Street Journal reported.

“I just felt it was time. We waited a long time,” Trump told reporters. It marked a sharp turn for a president who had spent months trying to personally negotiate peace with Putin, even cancelling and rescheduling summits in hopes of a breakthrough on Ukraine.

Why the patience ran out

Trump’s decision came after a series of frustrations. He had repeatedly expressed confidence that his diplomatic approach could end Russia’s war in Ukraine, especially after brokering a cease-fire in Gaza earlier this month. But according to US officials, Trump grew convinced Putin was “dragging him along.” The breaking point came when Russia launched fresh missile and drone strikes—including one that hit a kindergarten in Ukraine—just hours after Trump cancelled a planned summit in Budapest.

“Every time I speak with Vladimir, I have good conversations and then they don’t go anywhere,” Trump said on Wednesday, a rare public show of irritation toward the Russian leader.

The three options on the table

Officials said Trump was presented with three sanctions plans: a hardline package directly targeting Russian elites and industries, a middle option focused on energy firms, and a lighter version meant to signal displeasure without major disruption. He chose the middle path—hitting the core of Russia’s oil economy while leaving room for further escalation.

The sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil are the first direct US penalties on Russian energy during Trump’s second term and align with the European Union’s newly announced measures restricting Russian liquefied natural gas imports.

Fallout in Moscow and beyond

Putin acknowledged that the sanctions would hurt Russia’s economy, saying, “Some losses are expected,” but vowed that “no self-respecting country ever does anything under pressure.” Within a day of the announcement, Indian refiners reduced Russian oil orders, and Chinese state companies paused purchases, signalling potential global aftershocks.

Still, analysts remain cautious about whether the sanctions will truly weaken Moscow’s war finances. Russia’s economy has survived previous Western sanctions by rerouting exports through its “shadow fleet” and turning to new buyers in Asia.

Trump’s goal: pressure without breaking talks

Despite the escalation, the White House insists Trump still wants a negotiated end to the war. “The president has been clear that it’s time to end this,” a senior administration official said, adding that Trump continues to see himself as a mediator. Secretary Rubio echoed that line, saying, “We’d still like to meet with the Russians. Today was the day the president decided to do something.”

But others see deeper frustration behind the move. Former US envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker said, “This shows he’s just frustrated Putin hasn’t gone along with his plans yet. It’ll take a lot more than sanctions to get real concessions.”

What’s next for Trump’s Russia policy

Analysts say the president is keeping additional tools in reserve—including secondary sanctions on companies doing business with Rosneft and Lukoil, and the potential to send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Trump has so far resisted these steps, hoping to preserve leverage for future talks.

“Now the question is whether we’re seeing a fundamental retooling of Trump’s strategy or just a temporary gesture to show displeasure,” said Andrew Weiss of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
For now, the sanctions have reset Trump’s delicate balance with Putin: a mix of pressure, public impatience, and an enduring belief that he alone can broker the peace that has eluded both Moscow and Kyiv.