US Mulls Rosneft, Lukoil Sanctions if Putin Balks on Ceasefire

The US government is considering imposing sanctions on two major Russian oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, as a means of pressuring President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine. This is one of the options being discussed by US officials as they seek to find ways to compel Putin to end the ongoing conflict. The sanctions, if implemented, would target these Russian energy giants in an effort to further restrict Russia's economic capabilities and potentially influence its stance on the Ukraine war. The decision to pursue these sanctions is part of the US government's broader strategy to use various economic levers to incentivize Putin to accept a ceasefire, though the details and timeline of any potential action remain unclear. The goal is to apply significant pressure on Russia's energy sector, a crucial component of its economy, in the hopes of driving Putin towards a negotiated settlement.