The Trump administration has intensified economic pressure on Russia by enforcing stricter sanctions targeting its oil, gas, and banking industries. According to CBS News, these measures are designed to cripple Russian energy transactions by further limiting its banks’ access to U.S. payment systems, forming part of a broader effort to pressure Moscow amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In a significant escalation, the U.S. Treasury Department has opted not to extend the 60-day exemption initially introduced in January by former President Joe Biden. As a result, major Russian financial institutions—including Vnesheconombank, Sberbank, Alfa-Bank, and even the Central Bank of Russia—will be cut off from these vital financial networks.
The effects of these sanctions reach far beyond Russia. By restricting other countries’ ability to buy Russian oil, crude prices could increase by up to $5 per barrel, potentially impacting the global economy. This decision comes at a crucial time, as the Trump administration pushes to pressure Vladimir Putin into agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine—an agreement that Volodymyr Zelensky has already supported.
Sources close to the White House confirm that these sanctions serve as a crucial leverage point in the U.S. strategy to end the invasion. Washington has signaled its commitment to escalating economic pressure until Moscow concedes and ceases its hostilities.
