Washington / Moscow: Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced new sanctions targeting two major Russian oil companies accused of funding Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The move marks one of Trump’s most assertive actions yet toward the Kremlin amid mounting international pressure to curtail Russia’s wartime revenues.
The Kremlin swiftly responded, claiming that Russia is “protected” against such sanctions, and that its economy has already adapted to Western restrictions. However, analysts suggest that the development may also open a new chapter in U.S.-Russia diplomacy — one where Trump could use oil leverage to mediate peace in Ukraine.
This echoes a historical pattern. In Poland, journalist and critic Adam Michnik once remarked that “history shows communists were forced by circumstances to act wisely and accept compromises.”
Indeed, in the case of the Soviet Union, oil prices played a pivotal role in shaping political outcomes. During the 1970s and 1980s, global economic instability and fluctuating oil prices had a profound impact on the USSR’s economy, eventually contributing to its collapse.
Observers note that if Trump can manipulate oil markets or diplomatic incentives effectively, he may attempt to use energy as a tool for negotiation — not just punishment — to seek a ceasefire in Ukraine.
