Trump’s Sanctions on Russian Oil Cripple Kremlin War Funding

President Donald Trump is once again proving that strength not appeasement is the only language tyrants understand.

According to a new memo from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, Trump’s sanctions on Russia’s largest oil companies are dealing a devastating blow to Vladimir Putin’s war machine. The sweeping tariffs, imposed last month on energy giants Lukoil and Rosneft, are rapidly drying up Moscow’s revenue stream and limiting its ability to fund its aggression against Ukraine.

“Russian oil is now selling at multi-year lows, starving Putin’s war machine,” a Treasury spokesperson confirmed. “President Trump is the peace-and-prosperity President, and Treasury is prepared to take further action if necessary to end the senseless killing.”

This stands in stark contrast to the weak, ineffective foreign policy of the Biden administration, which spent years emboldening adversaries through diplomatic dithering and energy dependence. Trump’s direct, decisive action is already changing the calculus in Moscow and fast.

Highlights from the Treasury’s initial report include:

• Russian oil grades are trading far below international benchmarks, signaling a dramatic drop in demand.

• Major buyers in India and China once lifelines for Russian oil exports are now backing away from December shipments.

• The spread between Russian oil and global prices has widened significantly, further reducing Kremlin profits.

The sanctions, which took effect on October 22, mark a pivotal shift in how the United States confronts authoritarian regimes that threaten global stability. Trump’s bold leadership is exposing Russia’s vulnerabilities and making it harder for Putin to bankroll his war.

“Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at the announcement. “Given President Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war, Treasury is sanctioning Russia’s two largest oil companies that fund the Kremlin’s war machine. Treasury is prepared to take further action if necessary.”

Let’s not forget: under Biden, the U.S. actually lifted sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline in 2021 a move that emboldened Moscow, enabled its energy dominance, and arguably set the stage for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Trump, on the other hand, is using the full force of American economic power to choke off Putin’s war chest and restore peace through strength.

This is what real leadership looks like principled action, economic leverage, and a refusal to coddle tyrants. The Trump doctrine is working and the world is starting to take notice.

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