A day of major policy moves on Russia was marked by controversy, as President Trump publicly denied a “FAKE NEWS!” story about missile use in Ukraine, while his administration imposed significant new sanctions on Russian oil.
Trump took to social media to blast a report that the US had approved Ukraine’s use of British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles for attacks deep inside Russia. “The U.S. has nothing to do with those missiles,” Trump insisted, rejecting any suggestion of direct escalation.
Meanwhile, his Treasury Department was escalating on the economic front. New sanctions were announced against Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia’s top two oil producers, in the most direct attempt yet to cut off funding for Putin’s war.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the penalties were a response to Putin’s “refusal to end this senseless war.” This economic strike was paired with a diplomatic snub, as Trump had canceled his planned summit with the Russian leader just a day earlier.
The dual actions—denying military involvement while increasing economic pressure—highlight the administration’s complex and evolving strategy for dealing with the Kremlin over the war in Ukraine.