Russia Labels Trump Oil Sanctions Act of War, Escalates Tensions

US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, marking a significant escalation in pressure on Moscow amid the ongoing Ukraine war. This move prompted strong condemnation from Russian officials, with Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, calling the sanctions an "act of war" and accusing Trump of fully aligning with "loony Europe" and embarking on a warpath against Russia. The Kremlin, including Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, criticized the sanctions as counterproductive to peace efforts and threatened a "painful response" to any further Western measures, such as confiscating frozen Russian assets. Trump also canceled a planned summit with Vladimir Putin, citing skepticism about the potential for productive negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the sanctions as an important step but emphasized the need for continued pressure on Russia. The situation underscores the deepening tensions between the US and Russia, with Moscow viewing the US actions as hostile and provocative amid the conflict in Ukraine.