The measures taken against Rosneft and Lukoil mark the first time the US has sanctioned Russia since Donald Trump’s return to office in January

• US imposes sanctions on Russian oil over Putin’s ‘refusal’ to end war in Ukraine

The US has announced new sanctions against Russia’s two largest oil companies, signalling a major shift in Donald Trump’s approach to ending the war in Ukraine. The measures taken against Rosneft and Lukoil mark the first time the US has sanctioned Russia since Trump’s return to office in January.

The US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said the sanctions were needed because of “Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war” and that the companies targeted were responsible for funding the Kremlin’s “war machine”. He said that the US was also prepared to take further action.