The United States has unveiled a significant escalation in its sanctions regime against Russia, targeting the country’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil. The move, announced by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, aims to pressure Moscow into negotiating a peace deal in Ukraine. ‘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,’ Bessent stated. The sanctions come in response to Russia’s intensified military actions in Ukraine, including drone and missile strikes that claimed at least seven lives, including two children, on Wednesday. The US decision follows similar measures by the UK last week, which also targeted Rosneft and Lukoil, responsible for nearly half of Russia’s oil production. The announcement coincided with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s visit to the White House to discuss peace negotiations. Rutte is expected to present a 12-point plan formulated by European NATO allies and Kyiv, which includes freezing the current front lines, repatriating deported children, and establishing a prisoner exchange. The plan also proposes a war recovery fund for Ukraine, security pathways, and a clear route for Ukraine’s EU membership, alongside increased military aid and economic pressure on Russia. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has expressed frustration over the stalled peace talks, accusing Putin of not engaging honestly. Trump has previously supported proposals to freeze the conflict along current frontlines, stating, ‘Let it be cut the way it is. Stop fighting, stop killing people.’ However, Russia has rejected such proposals, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterating Moscow’s demand for Ukrainian troops to withdraw from the Donbas region. The US sanctions also aim to deter other nations from purchasing Russian oil, with lawmakers awaiting White House approval to enforce stricter measures. As the conflict continues, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the US to supply long-range Tomahawk missiles, suggesting their deployment could compel Russia to negotiate.