The US is preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia's energy sector to increase pressure if Russian dictator Vladimir Putin rejects a peace deal with Ukraine.
As he writes Bloomberg Citing sources, the US is considering sanctions against tankers from the shadow fleet that transport Russian oil, as well as against traders who facilitate these operations, the sources said on condition of anonymity.
The new measures could be announced as early as this week, some of the sources said, adding that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant had already discussed the plans with a group of European ambassadors.
However, sources warned that the final decision rests with US President Donald Trump.
The publication noted that the sanctions already imposed against Russia have not yet changed Putin's calculations. However, the measures aimed at Moscow's oil giants and trade have led to a drop in oil prices to record lows, which has greatly complicated the situation in the Russian economy.
Journalists recalled that the US has already imposed sanctions against 4 leading Russian producers and, together with other G7 countries, against hundreds of tankers involved in the transportation of Russian oil.
It is noted that the discussion of sanctions is taking place against the backdrop of peace agreement negotiations. And while American, Ukrainian and European officials have generally welcomed significant progress, some sources say that contentious issues remain over the future status of Donbas, the use of frozen Russian assets and the management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
According to some sources, American officials are considering frozen Russian assets as part of any future peace deal, just as European leaders are due to decide this week whether to use them to provide military and economic aid to Ukraine.
