US energy chief reveals steps to help stop Russia’s war in Ukraine
Photo: Secretary for the US Department of Energy Chris Wright (linkedin.com)
Imposing sanctions on Russian oil to help end the war in Ukraine is a "very real possibility", stated US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, according to Reuters.
"It is huge pressure on Russia," Wright said in an interview on Special Report with Bret Baier on Fox News.
US President Donald Trump said earlier this month that Washington could impose 100% tariffs on buyers of Russian oil, along with other sanctions, if Moscow refuses to agree to a peace deal with Ukraine. The deadline for the ultimatum expires in early September.
"That's the biggest pressure you can put on them," Wright said.
The United States is the world’s largest producer of oil and gas, and according to Wright, this position means the US can take actions that were previously unthinkable.
"We're able to do things that we couldn't do before," he said.
Despite this position, the Trump administration has so far refrained from imposing major oil sanctions on Russia, preferring to impose them on OPEC producer Iran after the President took office for the second time in January.
Trump’s ultimatum
On July 14, Donald Trump gave Vladimir Putin 50 days to end military operations against Ukraine. Otherwise, the US President vowed to impose tough sanctions on Russia, which will also affect buyers of Russian oil.
US Senator Lindsey Graham stated, "Putin, your turn is coming, Donald Trump is the Scottie Scheffler of American politics and foreign diplomacy and he’s about to put a whooping on your ass". He urged Moscow to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible. Graham also warned that the US would crush the economies of China, India, and Brazil if they keep purchasing cheap Russian oil.
