U.S. Sanctions: A Political Signal

[Editor’s note: Context — On 22 October, Washington announced sanctions targeting the Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil. This decision comes as the planned Trump–Putin talks in Budapest were cancelled.]

According to Ivan Timofeev, the new U.S. sanctions are likely to have limited economic effects, since the Russian energy sector was already under pressure. However, they send a negative political signal — namely, a renewed grip on U.S. foreign policy by American “hawks.”

Yet, the author argues, these sanctions will not achieve their objective: Russia will not accept a ceasefire in Ukraine without a “systemic” resolution of the issue and proper consideration of its demands. In his view, the prospect of settling the Ukrainian conflict (sic) is receding.

Expert: Ivan Timofeev, Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council
Source: «Negativnyj indikator», Kommersant, 23 October 2025

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