U.S. President Donald Trump has opted for a “middle” option of sanctions against Russia, targeting its energy sector. This was reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing sources within the administration.
Source: Espreso
According to the publication, Trump was presented with three scenarios:
- Hardline — full-scale restrictions against Russia’s industry and leadership;
- Medium — sanctions aimed at the oil sector;
- Soft — minimal restrictions.
The White House explained that the president sought to “test his own resolve” while keeping the possibility of a diplomatic resolution to the war open.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington’s goal remains unchanged — to push Russia toward negotiations. According to him, the new sanctions are part of a broader strategy:
“The President has been saying for months that action would be necessary if there was no progress on a peace deal. Today, he decided to act.”
WSJ journalists add that Trump still has other levers of pressure on Moscow at his disposal. These include the potential deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, as well as secondary sanctions against companies doing business with Russian oil corporations or participating in the “shadow fleet” of illegal tankers.
Former U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker believes Trump is acting cautiously because he still seeks an agreement with Putin:
“This shows he is frustrated that Putin hasn’t agreed to his plans.”
Volker emphasized that real pressure on the Kremlin will require stronger actions — and sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could become the next crucial step.