Supporting a Financial Times report yesterday, Bloomberg reports that US President Donald Trump is weighing additional measures targeting Russian oil revenue, following a 25% secondary tariff on Indian exports to the US, announced earlier today.
- Bloomberg notes: “In addition to punishing buyers of Russian energy with tariffs, the Trump administration is considering new sanctions on Moscow’s covert fleet of oil tankers and several entities that enable them to operate, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke before the administration posted the executive order on India tariffs to social media.”
- The Financial Times reported yesterday: “Blacklisting vessels in the fleet would mark the first time the US has imposed sanctions on Moscow since Trump returned to the White House in January.”
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, wrote on X this morning: “Secondary tariffs would make Russian energy extremely expensive for those who consider it “too cheap” and turn a blind eye to the killing of Ukrainians.”
- Axios reports that Trump is expected to speak with Zelenskyy this afternoon to discuss today's meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff. The leaders could discuss the prospect of an 'air truce' with Russia.
- Recent moves from the White House suggest the Trump administration is pivoting to more robust long-term support for Ukraine, both via a new mechanism to transfer US weapons to Kyiv and through strategic sanctions and tariffs that aim to degrade Russia's oil revenue.