The 3 economies US vows to ‘crush’ as Trump deals Putin hammer blow | World | News
Donald Trump has sent a brutal warning to three countries that continue to buy oil from Russia, as the US President looks to turn up the heat on Vladimir Putin. His threat comes weeks after the White House slapped new financial punishments on the oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil.
Oil and gas revenue accounts for up to a quarter of Russia’s budget and is the most important source of cash for Moscow’s military campaign, now in its fourth year. The new move is intended to increase the pressure on the Kremlin leader to engage meaningfully in peace negotiations over Ukraine. Putin has so far refused to make any concessions on the war, apparently convinced he can still achieve his maximalist aims of total subjugation of his neighbour.
In the clearest indication to date that he is prepared to get even tougher on the Kremlin, the US President told reporters: “Well I hear they are doing that and that’s okay with me.
“They are passing legislation, the Republicans are, they are putting in legislation that is very tough. It’s sanctioning etc etc on any country doing business with Russia.
“They may add Iran to that..I suggested it. So any country that does business with Russia will be very severely sanctioned.”
US senators have been working for months on a tough sanctions bill that could impose up to 500% tariffs on any country buying Russian energy products.
This would potentially have serious consequences for countries like China, India and Brazil – some of the biggest purchasers of Russian oil and gas since the outbreak of the full-scale war in February 2022.
The bill has long been championed by Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of the Republican boss. In July, the South Carolina Senator told Fox News: “Here’s what I would tell China, India and Brazil.
“If you keep buying cheap Russian oil to allow this war to continue, we’re going to tear up the hell out of you, and we’re going to crush your economy.
“He’s (Putin) not going to stop until somebody makes him stop. You’re buying cheap Russian oil at the expense of the world, and President Trump is tired of this game.”
Trump previously backed away from supporting the bill, as he tried to press for a deal at the Alaska summit.
Ultimately, the US President walked away empty handed, as Putin refused to budge and instead reportedly gave Trump a rambling historical lecture about Ukraine.
