
President Joe Biden has enacted sweeping new sanctions against Russia’s oil industry in the final days of his administration, avoiding criticism for potentially sabotaging President-elect Donald Trump’s commitment to ending the war in Ukraine. The sanctions are expected to raise gas prices for Americans and deepen tensions between Russia and the West.
Biden avoided answering questions about why he waited until now to introduce these measures, which he acknowledged would drive up gas prices. The timing of these sanctions raises concerns that Biden and his allies are deliberately escalating the conflict to hinder Trump’s efforts to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table.
Biden is using sanctions against Russia that he knows won’t work to create inflation and destabilise markets in advance of @realDonaldTrump and @JDVance taking the reins. This is a truly monstrous elite who do not remotely care about the American people. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/xdVxDI3zbQ
— Philip Pilkington (@philippilk) January 13, 2025
The sanctions target Russia’s biggest oil companies and over 180 oil tankers, severely limiting Russia’s ability to fund its war efforts. This latest move follows Biden’s approval of billions in military aid to Ukraine and his administration’s decision to allow Ukraine to launch attacks inside Russia using U.S.-supplied weapons.
US TREASURY SANCTIONS SOME RUSSIA OIL TANKERS
Biden waited until he is out of the White House to finally activate Russia sanctions because surging gas prices are now Trump's problem
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) January 10, 2025
Critics argue that Biden is using these last-minute sanctions to box in the incoming administration. President Donald Trump has pledged to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine, promising to end the conflict swiftly. Biden’s aggressive economic tactics risk prolonging the war and making Trump’s peace strategy more difficult to achieve.
Brent is up almost 2% and is above $81/b
– The Biden ignored sanctions on Russia, Iran, and Venezuela to prevent oil prices from rising before elections.– Now they lost, they do not care. The imposed sanctions left and right. pic.twitter.com/z8fQDYNbgB
— Anas Alhajji (@anasalhajji) January 13, 2025
WOKE'sters and the neocons. What strange bedfellows. And now Biden has decided to try and start WW3 with Russia and hobble the Trump America with hits that just keep coming. Increasing sanctions on Russian oil and thus increasing gas price here at home.https://t.co/kBcAU2PeMC…
— Angie Pratt (@ArkansasAngie) January 13, 2025
Global oil prices surged over 3% as news of the sanctions broke, signaling immediate consequences for American consumers. Biden claimed the sanctions would only raise gas prices by a few cents, but experts warn that the actual impact could be much higher, further burdening American families already struggling with high energy costs.
Many see Biden’s actions as a final attempt to lock the U.S. into deeper involvement in the conflict, leaving Trump with limited options to deescalate the situation. This aggressive strategy appears to prioritize political maneuvering over securing peace and protecting American economic interests.