The United States has imposed sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil. Former President Dmitry Medvedev has directly accused Donald Trump of"warfare" and called the sanctions an "act of war." Russia has also issued a stern warning to the European Union against attempts to confiscate frozen assets and is promising retaliation. Indian oil giant halts imports of Russian oil due to pressure.

Pravda, CTK,

New US sanctions targeting Russia's two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, have sparked a furious and unprecedentedly harsh response in the Kremlin. The restrictions, imposed by the US on Wednesday night in an attempt to cut off funding for the war in Ukraine, are seen by Moscow as a direct declaration of hostility.

Medvedev: Trump has allied himself with"crazy Europe"

Former Russian President and current Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev escalated the rhetoric, comparing US actions, including the cancellation of the planned summit, to"an act of war against Russia."

“The US is our enemy, and its talkative ‘peacemaker’ has now fully embarked on a war campaign against Russia,” Medvedev wrote. According to him, US President Donald Trump has joined “crazy Europe,” even though Trump has delayed the imposition of sanctions for several months. Medvedev expects excuses to follow, but that “does not change the fact that the decisions taken are an act of war against Russia.”

Putin test-fired missiles from the nuclear triad JARS and Sineva

At the same time, Medvedev's rhetoric has turned inward, seeing an advantage in this"latest swing of the Trump pendulum." According to him, it is now possible to"attack Ukraine with all possible weapons, regardless of unnecessary negotiations, and achieve victory exactly where it is only possible - on the ground."

Zakharova warns EU: A painful response awaits you

In addition to reacting to US sanctions, which Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described as"extremely counterproductive" to the search for peace, Moscow also issued a harsh threat to the European Union on the same day.

The Kremlin has warned of a"painful response" to any attempt by Brussels to seize Russian assets frozen in European accounts. The handling of frozen assets is to be discussed at an EU summit.

"Any actions with Russian assets without Russia's consent are invalid from the point of view of international and treaty law," Zakharova said."Any confiscation initiatives from Brussels will inevitably result in a painful response," she warned, adding that Moscow would act on the principle of reciprocity and based on its interests.

The European Commission has presented a plan that would allow Ukraine to use up to €185 billion of frozen assets for a so-called reparation loan without them being directly confiscated.

Markets reacted immediately

The US sanctions, which Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin's reluctance to end the war, limit Russian companies' access to American technology and warn all companies that cooperate with them of the threat of secondary sanctions. Washington has called on allies to join the measures.

There was an immediate reaction on international markets: oil prices rose by almost four percent, with Brent crude reaching $65 per barrel.

India halts Russian oil imports

The sanctions have brought a significant response from a key buyer of Russian oil. Private Indian company Reliance Industries, India's largest oil importer, announced that it would stop importing oil purchased under a long-term contract with Rosneft. The giant purchases almost 500,000 barrels per day.

The move demonstrates the direct impact of pressure from the Trump administration, which has long urged countries like India and China to stop buying Russian raw materials that finance the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the US move and the approval of the 19th EU sanctions package. He stressed that a ceasefire is only possible if pressure on Russia is increased, and called for continued measures against the Russian energy sector and the"shadow fleet."