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Moscow, Beijing condemn US sanctions on Russian energy

Iran Press TV

Friday, 24 October 2025 7:55 AM

Russia has condemned the latest US sanctions targeting its top oil companies, warning such moves by Washington will lead the world toward instability.

On October 23, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the punitive measures imposed on the Russian energy sector will "backfire" and that Moscow will not compromise its national interests.

She called the move "entirely counterproductive," adding that Russia "has developed a strong immunity to western restrictions" and will continue to build its energy sector despite economic pressure.

The Russian spokesperson also reaffirmed that Moscow remains open to dialogue, saying there are "no major obstacles" to peace talks, provided they are "rooted in mutual respect and realism."

Furthermore, Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, denounced the sanctions at a press briefing on Thursday, saying Beijing opposes unilateral measures that lack "a basis in international law or UN authorization."

"Dialogue and negotiation are the only feasible ways to resolve the Ukraine crisis, rather than coercion and pressure."

The Donald Trump administration on Wednesday announced sanctions against Russia. They target Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia's two largest oil companies, over what Washington calls Moscow's refusal to end the war in Ukraine.

The measures also extend to dozens of subsidiaries linked to Rosneft and Lukoil, blocking their assets and barring US citizens from dealing with them, the US Treasury said.

Furthermore, the sanctions include a phased ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and fresh restrictions on Moscow's fleet of tankers.

The sanctions mark US President Donald Trump's first Ukraine-related action against Russia in his second term, lifting oil prices by more than $2 a barrel.

The EU, on the same day, approved the new sanctions package. The measures followed Britain's sanctioning of Rosneft and Lukoil on October 16.

On October 21, Donald Trump called off his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling talks a "waste of time."

While admitting the sanctions pose "risks to the dominance of the dollar in global transactions," he described the coercive measures as "tremendous," saying Russia had left him "no choice."

The decision against Russia marks a major US policy shift toward the European giant, as the US President initially adopted a diplomatic approach toward Moscow.

The new US foreign policy comes into practice after the Kremlin made it clear it would not agree to a ceasefire favorable to the US.

Putin said on Thursday the latest US sanctions were "serious," but not strong enough to significantly affect the economy.