The US appears to have “exhausted” sanctions against Russia, according to statements by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who emphasized that restrictions have been imposed on the country’s largest oil companies. Specifically, the State Department chief noted that the next steps will likely focus on ensuring compliance with existing sanctions rather than imposing new ones.
Read: Russia: Lavrov declares readiness to meet with Rubio when needed
“We hit their major oil companies, which is what everyone was asking for,” he said in response to journalists after the G7 foreign ministers meeting in Canada. The American Secretary of State also addressed the issue of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” used to bypass oil sector restrictions. He described combating this phenomenon as an “enforcement mechanism” problem rather than a reason to impose new sanctions. Rubio expressed the view that European partners should play a more active role in this process, as a significant number of ships operate near their territories.
When asked whether Russia genuinely seeks peace, Rubio responded that such things can only be judged by actions. In his opinion, Moscow “clearly stated that what it wants is the rest of Donetsk, and obviously, the Ukrainians are not going to agree to that.”
Rubio: US conducting continuous talks with Ukrainian side
Rubio also commented on the intense missile attacks on Ukrainian territory, which, he said, aim to destroy the electrical grid and demoralize the population. In the context of supporting Ukraine, the Secretary of State confirmed that the United States is conducting continuous talks with the Ukrainian side to help stabilize the energy network. He emphasized that Ukraine’s energy system is deteriorating year by year.
According to Rubio, discussions are underway regarding the provision of specialized equipment and defensive weapons to protect energy infrastructure. However, the main problem remains the high probability of equipment destruction shortly after installation due to Russian strikes.
