Putin Rejects US Sanctions, Warns of ‘Serious’ Response to Any Attacks.
In a strong reaction to US sanctions on Russian oil giants, President Vladimir Putin on Thursday vowed that Moscow would not yield to pressure from Washington or any other country, warning that any strikes on Russian territory would trigger a “very serious and overwhelming” response, Reuters reported.
Calling the sanctions a “hostile and unfriendly act,” Putin insisted they would not significantly affect Russia’s economic stability, adding that the nation’s energy sector remains confident. “No self-respecting country and no self-respecting people ever decides anything under pressure,” he said.
Putin also highlighted the potential global energy impact, warning that disruptions could drive oil prices higher, causing discomfort for countries like the US, especially amid domestic political concerns.
Addressing reports of Ukraine acquiring long-range Tomahawk missiles, Putin called it an attempt at escalation. “If such weapons are used to attack Russian territory, the response will be very serious, if not overwhelming. Let them think about it,” he said.
The sanctions, announced by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), target Russia’s two largest oil firms, Rosneft and Lukoil, along with several subsidiaries. The US move aims to curb Moscow’s war funding and pressure Russia over the Ukraine conflict.
President Donald Trump described the measures as “tremendous” but expressed hope for a resolution, saying, “We hope that the war will be settled. I just felt it was time.”
Rosneft, a state-linked energy giant, handles exploration, refining, and global petroleum sales, while Lukoil, a private multinational, operates across oil and gas sectors both in Russia and internationally.
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