A meeting of American and European high-ranking officials will take place in Washington on September 8, during which new ways to exert economic pressure on the Russian Federation will be discussed, including the introduction of additional sanctions. The meeting comes amid growing dissatisfaction from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the difficulties in ending the war in Ukraine.
This is reported by Finway
Trump’s Pressure on the EU Over Russian Oil
European Council President António Costa confirmed that an EU delegation is in Washington to work jointly with American partners on new sanctions against Russia. At the same time, Donald Trump openly accuses European countries of supporting the Russian military machine through the purchase of Russian oil. Hungary and Slovakia have faced the most criticism, as they are, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the only EU members continuing to buy oil from Russia.
“According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the only countries in the EU buying oil from Russia are Hungary and Slovakia. Moreover, the bloc aims to phase out Russian oil by 2028.”
The European Union plans to completely halt imports of Russian energy resources by 2028. Meanwhile, according to European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen, he has not felt any pressure from Washington to expedite this process. This week, negotiations are also expected between Jørgensen and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright in Brussels, where the issue of the EU purchasing American energy resources worth $250 billion annually will be discussed.
India and China Increase Purchases of Russian Oil
U.S. Special Representative Steve Witkoff emphasized that European countries are indirectly continuing to buy Russian oil by importing fuel from India. According to The Economic Times, in August, diesel fuel exports from India to Europe increased by 137% compared to July, reaching 242,000 barrels per day. This surge is attributed to preparations for the upcoming EU ban on importing fuel made from Russian oil, which will take effect in January 2026. Compared to August 2024, export volumes have increased by 73% and exceeded the average of the past year by 124%.
Despite a 50% tariff from the U.S., India has stated its intention to continue purchasing oil from Russia. U.S. President Donald Trump, commenting on this stance, noted that India and Russia are effectively strengthening their energy ties with China. In turn, China has signed a new agreement with Rosneft, under which it will purchase an additional 2.5 million tons of Russian oil annually. This agreement was reached during Putin’s recent visit to Beijing.