By Ellie Cook and Shane Croucher
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A top Kremlin official said President Donald Trump had launched an "act of war" against Russia with fresh sanctions on its largest oil companies and the cancellation of a proposed summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"If any of the many commentators still harbored illusions — here you go. The U.S. is our enemy, and their talkative 'peacemaker' has now fully taken the road to war with Russia," said Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's security council and a former president, in a post on the messaging app Telegram.
Why It Matters
Trump has positioned himself as a "peacemaker," determined to add the war in Ukraine to his list of conflicts that now have ceasefire or peace deals.
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In a surprise move on Wednesday, the White House announced sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies — Rosneft and Lukoil — in a bid to pressure Moscow to the negotiating table. Trump had threatened sanctions, but had seemed reluctant to follow through on his threats against the Kremlin.
Ukraine has also targeted Russia's powerful oil industry in a bid to cut the Kremlin off from vital income streams propping up its war effort. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom sanctioned the two major oil companies last week, saying Rosneft alone produced nearly half of all Russia's oil.
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What To Know
Medvedev is well-known for his blunt social media statements, including those directed at Trump. "Yes, he doesn't always actively fight on the side of Banderite Kyiv yet, but this is now his conflict, not senile Biden's!" Medvedev wrote on Telegram on Thursday. The term "Banderite" refers to controversial World War Two-era anti-Soviet Ukrainian nationalist, Stepan Bandera.
"Of course they'll say he couldn't do otherwise, that he was pressured in Congress, etc.," Medvedev added. "That doesn't change the main point: the decisions made are an act of war against Russia."
Trump has repeatedly said Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if he had sat in the Oval Office in February 2022. He has also branded the conflict as President Joe Biden's war.
"Trump has fully sided with mad Europe," Medvedev said. The European Union announced its 19th sanctions package against Russia on Thursday, targeting Moscow's energy revenues, financial institutions and Moscow's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers sailing around the world and dodging sanctions.
Russia's official government response to the U.S. sanctions has so far been brief, with Moscow's foreign ministry calling the sanctions "counterproductive."
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the sanctions as a "fair and absolutely deserved step" that would help exert pressure on Russia in negotiations.
Two Ukrainian lawmakers told Newsweek that the sanctions had come as something of a surprise, and while welcome, were unlikely to herald a quick journey to a ceasefire or peace deal.
Trump shelved plans for a face-to-face summit with Putin in Hungary this week, saying he did not want a "wasted meeting." Russia said its conditions for an end to the war had not changed since the Kremlin leader met Trump in Alaska in August.
What People Are Saying
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the economic measures were "a result of Russia’s lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday he was grateful to Trump and "the entire American team for this resolute and well-targeted decision," adding: "It is a strong and much-needed message that aggression will not go unanswered."
Update 10/23/2025 at 6:20 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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