As expected, Russia hasn't taken kindly to Donald Trump's new sanctions, which were announced yesterday.
It was revealed on Wednesday (October 22) that the US is bringing forward sanctions on two major oil firms in Russia, Rosneft and Lukoil, in addition to dozens of subsidiaries.
According to Sky News, this has caused a three percent hike in oil prices across the globe and has prompted India, Russia's biggest buyer of oil, to consider cutting Russian imports.
US treasury secretary Scott Bessent was the one to announce the news. "Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire," he said.
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Bessent continued: "Given President Putin's refusal to end this senseless war, Treasury is sanctioning Russia's two largest oil companies that fund the Kremlin's war machine.
"We encourage our allies to join us in, and adhere to, these sanctions."
Donald Trump has also reacted to the news and said he thought 'it was time' Russia faced sanctions.
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He went on: "These are tremendous sanctions. These are very big, against their two big oil companies, and we hope that they won’t be on for long. We hope that the war will be settled.
"Many Russians were killed last week. Many Ukrainians were killed last week. We think it’s ridiculous."
Trump added that when he holds talks with Vladimir Putin they have 'good conversations', however 'they don't go anywhere'.
"It’s time to make a deal. A lot of people are dying," said the POTUS of ongoing bloodshed between Russia and Ukraine.
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Now Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president and close ally of Putin's, has hit out at the sanctions.
He said in a chilling statement, per Sky News: "The US is our enemy, and their talkative 'peacemaker' has now fully embarked on the warpath with Russia.
"The decisions taken are an act of war against Russia. And now Trump has fully aligned himself with loony Europe."
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The sanctions come after Ukraine claimed that Russia bombed a kindergarten in Kharkiv. It's believed that no children were injured in the blast but an adult male lost his life.
Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a statement: "There was a direct hit on a private kindergarten in the Kholodnoyarkiy district of Kharkiv. A fire started."
Elsewhere Ukraine's President Zelenskyy described Russia's actions as 'a spit in the face of anyone who insists on a peaceful solution', Politico reported.
"There is and cannot be any justification for a drone strike on a kindergarten. Russia is becoming more impudent," he added.
Topics: Russia, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, World News, Politics, US News
Niamh Shackleton