Bloomberg: Trump's Team Readies Oil-Sanctions Plan For Russia

• 16.01.2025, 19:04

The United States is planning to tighten sanctions against Russian oil producers.

Donald Trump's team has begun developing a strategy for sanctions against Russia, Bloomberg writes, citing sources familiar with the situation. This strategy should facilitate reaching an agreement between Russia and Ukraine “in the coming months”, and on the other hand, put pressure on Iran and Venezuela.

Trump's strategy may have two main approaches, which are currently being considered. If the new administration believes that the war in Ukraine is close to ending, then some “goodwill gestures” may follow towards Russian oil producers. This will be possible if the United States believes that this will help conclude a peace agreement. The second approach is to increase sanctions pressure in order to try to influence decision-making with their help.

It is unclear which of these options Trump himself is leaning towards. The development of this plan has only just begun and is at an early stage. Ultimately, everything will “depend on the president-elect himself,” the sources said. The strategy discussions include some of Trump's Cabinet nominees, some former officials from his first administration, and several conservative think tanks.

If sanctions are relaxed, the talk would be about issuing general licenses or raising the price cap on Russian oil.

If sanctions are tightened, the talk would be about tougher secondary sanctions for oil trading against European shippers and Asian buyers, including major companies in China and India, the people said. They also said Trump's team could go for “tougher intervention” against tankers carrying Russian oil at “vital Danish and Turkish checkpoints.”