'Serious': Putin admits Trump's oil sanctions will have 'consequences'

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday described the latest round of US sanctions against Russia’s energy sector as “serious”, admitting they would have consequences but insisting they would not cause major damage to the economy.“They (sanctions) are serious for us, of course, that is clear. And they will have certain consequences, but they will not significantly impact our economic well-being,” Putin told reporters in Moscow, as quoted by news agency AFP.He called the move an “unfriendly act” that “does not strengthen Russia–US relations, which have only just begun to recover.”The remarks came after US President Donald Trump’s administration announced what it called “massive sanctions” against two of Russia’s largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil.

Washington said the measures were designed to pressure Moscow into peace talks and cut off its “war machine” funding the conflict in Ukraine.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the sanctions were a direct response to Russia’s refusal to end its “senseless war”, while urging allies to “adhere to these sanctions.”Trump, meanwhile, said he hoped the measures would push both sides towards dialogue. “Hopefully he’ll become reasonable,” he said of Putin. “And hopefully Zelenskyy will be reasonable too. You know, it takes two to tango.”