Zelensky praises the’strong’ message of US sanctions on Russia.

BRUSSELS – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk)- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the “strong and much-needed” message given by US sanctions on Russia’s energy industry on Thursday, as President Donald Trump increased pressure on Moscow in tandem with the European Union.

“We waited for it.  “God bless it will work, and this is very important,” Zelensky told media at an EU conference in Brussels, claiming Washington has delivered “a good signal to other countries in the world to join the sanctions.”

Trump imposed penalties on Russia’s two major oil corporations, Rosneft and Lukoil, on Wednesday, claiming that his negotiations with Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine conflict “don’t go anywhere.”

Zelensky hailed Trump for a “resolute and well-targeted decision,” posting on X as he arrived in Brussels.

He said the US sanctions were a “clear signal that prolonging the war and spreading terror come at a cost.”

“It is a strong and much-needed message that aggression will not go unanswered,” he said.

Meanwhile, Russia said that new US sanctions on its oil industry risked hurting diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war, and that it had developed a “strong immunity” to them.

“We view this step as being entirely counterproductive, including in terms of signalling the need to achieve meaningful negotiated solutions to the Ukrainian conflict,” Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a weekly briefing.

“Our country has developed a strong immunity to Western restrictions and will continue to confidently develop its economic potential, including its energy potential,” she added.

Trump has held off pulling the trigger on sanctions against Russia for months but his patience snapped after plans for a fresh summit with Putin in Budapest collapsed.

Pakistan Army Vows Strong Stand Against Threats

His move came as the European Union approved a 19th package of sanctions to pressure Russia to end its relentless, three-and-a-half-year invasion of its neighbor.

As part of its additional restrictions, the 27-nation bloc also targeted Russia’s fossil fuels, pushing a moratorium on liquefied natural gas imports by a year until the beginning of 2027.

It also banned over 100 more tankers from Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet” of outdated oil vessels and restricted the travel of Russian diplomats suspected of espionage.

The package was formally adopted Thursday, just before Zelensky joined EU leaders for summit talks focused on shoring up support for Ukraine.