The United States is preparing a powerful response to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. President Donald Trump has warned that unless Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees to a ceasefire by Friday, the US will impose tough new sanctions. These sanctions will target a secret network of oil tankers known as the “shadow fleet” — vessels used to help Russia quietly move oil and fund its military actions.
These steps would mark the Trump administration’s first direct economic penalties against Russia since returning to office in January, showing a sharp shift in strategy as frustration with the Kremlin grows.
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Russia’s shadow fleet is made up of older oil tankers that operate in the dark. These vessels hide their real ownership and avoid using services from Western companies, making them harder to trace. They allow Russia to bypass price caps and ship oil, mainly to China and India, earning billions to support its war in Ukraine.
In the past, sanctions targeted companies managing these ships. But recent evidence shows that naming the vessels themselves is far more effective. After being sanctioned, many of these ships saw their activity drop sharply. A Financial Times study found that 115 blacklisted tankers carried just 13 million barrels of oil monthly after sanctions — down from 48 million before.
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This success has encouraged both the US and the European Union, which recently sanctioned over 100 more ships. Experts like Kevin Book, managing director at ClearView Energy Partners, say these direct measures are a simple and powerful way to cut off Russia’s oil profits.
Trump Frustrated with Putin’s Refusal to Cease Attacks
Despite earlier attempts at diplomacy, President Trump is reportedly losing patience with Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin has ignored repeated deadlines and has recently increased its attacks on Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about possible new sanctions. Zelenskyy welcomed the pressure, saying that Russia is feeling the weight of its shrinking economy and growing isolation.
So far, 213 vessels were blacklisted during Joe Biden’s presidency. Trump has avoided adding to that list in hopes of a peace deal, but the mood is shifting quickly.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is currently in Moscow for last-ditch talks. A senior source said Trump will wait to decide on sanctions based on what Witkoff reports back. “If Witkoff comes back empty-handed, with absolutely nothing, Trump is going to go ballistic,” the source added.
The Kremlin has acknowledged Witkoff’s visit. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow values these talks and sees them as “very useful.”
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More Penalties Under Discussion, Including Tariffs and Banking Limits
Beyond targeting the shadow fleet, the White House is exploring other tools to pressure Russia. These include enforcing existing sanctions more strictly and possibly joining the EU’s new floating oil price cap, set to take effect in September.
Experts like Edward Fishman, from Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, say the US has wide room to tighten the screws. One option is to place secondary sanctions on foreign banks and refineries that help Russia sell its oil.
Trump also recently announced plans to raise tariffs on India, a major buyer of Russian oil. “They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian war machine,” Trump said in a social media post.
At the same time, a new bill led by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal is gaining support in Congress. It proposes tariffs of up to 500% on countries that continue buying Russian energy. Trump has said he’s “very strongly” considering backing the plan.
White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly made it clear: “The president has been clear that there will be biting sanctions if Putin does not agree to end the war. We will not get ahead of the president on specifics.”
With the deadline just days away, Washington’s message to Moscow is louder than ever — stop the war or face painful consequences.