Marco Rubio has suggested the US does not have many other ways to sanction Russia after slapping penalties on two major oil giants in October.
Donald Trump’s most senior diplomat suggested he has been facing pressure from his counterparts to pile on the punishments for Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Advertisement
But he dashed any hopes of further sanctions when, just before a meeting of G7 foreign ministers on Thursday, he said: “Well, there’s not a lot left to sanction from our part, I mean, we hit their major oil companies, which is what everybody’s been asking for.”
The States did sanction Rosneft and Lukoil and their subsidiaries last month in the hope of damaging Russia’s war machine.
Exporting fossil fuels is the main way Russia funds its costly invasion of Ukraine, so western leaders have been trying to reduce its customer base.
Advertisement
Ukraine’s allies hope this will eventually force Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table after almost four years of war.
The EU has unveiled at least 19 packages of sanctions meant to hit the economy in that time while the UK has sanctioned nearly 500 shadow fleet vessels and almost 2,000 individuals linked to Russia.
It was an additional victory for Kyiv when Trump’s administration finally gave up on trying to befriend Russia and instead announced the sanctions last month.
Advertisement
The penalties come into full force on November 21, but many nations are still reliant on Russia’s cheap exports.
Several countries are already considering asking the US for exemptions – and Hungary has already secured one.
Even so, Rubio said: “Sanctions have to be enforced, so you know we don’t put sanctions and then not enforce them. We’re interested in enforcing them as well.”
Advertisement
He said that might include pursuing the Russian shadow fleet, where ships illegally carry oil around the world, more intently.
“Shadow fleet has come up because I do think there are things that the Europeans can do on shadow fleet since a lot of these are happening in areas much closer to them,” Rubio said.
However, Ukraine is insistent that there are plenty more ways for the US to punish Russia.
Sanctions envoy Vladslav Vlasiuk said: “Regarding Rubio’s statement, about exhausting sanctions options… there are absolutely more objective options out there. More oil majors, banks and fleet/infrastructure. And components and defence. And payments. And the Arctic.”
Advertisement
He added in a social media post: ”We continue to work with American partners and with the G7, and with others. There will be more sanctions.”
Russia has just shrugged off the sanctions so far, insisting it will never bow to American pressure.
Putin told Russian reporters last month: “No self-respecting country ever does anything under pressure.”
However, he admitted that new sanctions might cause “some losses”, before sneaking in a threat to Trump, saying the US president should “think about who his administration is really working for”.
Advertisement
There have been some claims – including from Trump himself – that one of Russia’s largest customers, India, might stop buying as much oil in the wake of Trump’s tariffs on the country.
