Moscow: In a fiery rebuke that underscores the escalating tensions between superpowers, Russian President Vladimir Putin has lashed out at the United States over fresh sanctions on his country’s oil giants, declaring that no self-respecting nation bends to external pressure.
The bold statement comes amid soaring global oil prices and a scrapped high-stakes meeting with US President Donald Trump, adding fuel to the Ukraine conflict’s geopolitical fire.
Putin dismissed the US bans on Rosneft and Lukoil as futile attempts to coerce Moscow into a ceasefire in Ukraine. “No self-respecting country acts under pressure,” he asserted, warning Trump that such measures would destabilise world energy markets and spike oil prices — hitting America hard too. “We made it very clear that these measures will affect global oil prices, including the US,” Putin said, highlighting how the sanctions could backfire on the very nation imposing them.
The US Treasury justified the move as a bid to cripple Russia’s war machine, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed it as a blow to the Kremlin’s capabilities. However, Russia’s Foreign Ministry shrugged it off, claiming minimal impact on their economy.
Meanwhile, oil prices surged in global markets, prompting energy importers like India to slash Russian crude purchases.
Putin also addressed the cancellation of a proposed Budapest summit with Trump, initiated by the US side. “It would be a mistake for both of us if we take this meeting lightly and return without results,” he noted, emphasising dialogue over confrontation. “Dialogue is always better than disputes or war,” he added, signalling Moscow’s openness to talks despite the standoff.
This defiance not only spotlights Russia’s resilience but also raises questions about future US-Russia relations and their ripple effects on global economies.