US Sanctions On Russia Aim To Push For Ukraine Ceasefire, Says White House

The White House has described the latest sanctions imposed on Russia as ‘pretty hefty’, signalling a concerted effort to exert maximum pressure on Moscow.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaking at a briefing on Thursday, highlighted that the measures target Russia’s two largest oil producers and could significantly influence global energy markets.

Leavitt noted reports indicating that China and India, the largest buyers of Russian oil, were scaling back their purchases, amplifying the impact of the sanctions.

“It’s full court press for sure, and we expect that these sanctions are going to do harm,” she said, emphasising the serious intent behind Washington’s decision.

When asked whether additional sanctions could follow, Leavitt left the possibility open, stating, “I’ll leave that to the President (Trump) to decide.”

She explained that Trump had chosen to announce the measures and cancel a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin because he had ‘not seen enough interest’ from Russia in progressing toward peace.

Leavitt said, “The President always implements sanctions on Russia when he feels it is appropriate and necessary — and he implemented them yesterday,” adding that Trump expressed frustration with both sides in the conflict and stressed that both parties must genuinely pursue a peace deal for negotiations to succeed.

Trump Cancels Meeting with Putin

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump confirmed he had ‘cancelled’ the proposed meeting with Putin, explaining, “It didn’t feel like we were going to get to the place we have to get — so I cancelled it, but we’ll do it in the future.”

Leavitt clarified that a future meeting remains possible but must yield a tangible and positive outcome.

Leavitt also addressed reports that divergent expectations following a call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov contributed to the cancellation.

“That was not the sole reason, no,” she said, adding that Secretary Rubio considered the conversation productive, but the President wanted to ensure any meeting with Putin is a good use of time.

Earlier on Thursday, the European Union announced its 19th round of sanctions against Russia, targeting sectors including energy, finance, and the military.

The EU’s financial penalties complement US measures, signalling international coordination aimed at pressuring Moscow to change its approach in Ukraine.

The White House reiterated that the sanctions are part of a strategic effort to limit Russia’s ability to continue aggressive actions while leaving diplomatic channels open for potential future negotiations.

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