US Energy Secretary: Sanctioning Russian Oil to End Ukraine War Is a “Very Real Possibility”
Sanctioning Russian oil could become a powerful tool in ending the war in Ukraine, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said during an appearance on Fox News on Tuesday, The Gaze reports, citing Reuters.
Speaking on Special Report with Bret Baier, Wright confirmed that targeting Russia’s energy exports is on the table: “It is a very real possibility.”
His comments come just weeks after President Donald Trump floated the idea of imposing 100% tariffs on buyers of Russian oil and other severe penalties if the Kremlin refuses to reach a major peace agreement with Ukraine. That ultimatum reportedly comes with a September deadline.
“It is huge pressure on Russia,” Wright told Fox News. “That’s the biggest pressure you can put on them.”
The United States currently leads the world in oil and gas production, a position that Wright said gives Washington the leverage to take more assertive actions than ever before.
“We’re able to do things that we couldn’t do before,” he added.
Still, despite that global dominance, the Trump administration has not yet imposed sweeping oil sanctions on Russia, instead targeting Iran — another major oil exporter — since Trump’s return to office in January.
Whether the White House will follow through with a comprehensive sanctions package against Russian oil remains to be seen, but Wright’s comments suggest a shift toward more aggressive economic pressure as the Ukraine war continues.
As The Gaze previously reported, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced he will meet with his Chinese counterpart next week in Stockholm, where he plans to address concerns over China’s continued purchases of sanctioned Russian oil and its broader support for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.