Razom We Stand Urges Trump to Block Russia’s Fossil Fuel Power‑Play
What’s on the table? Razom We Stand—Ukraine’s belt‑and‑braces campaign group—has fired a salvo at the incoming Trump administration, demanding a flood‑of sanctions that cut off Russia’s lifeline: liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the shadow fleet of tankers that ferry it.
The Why Behind the Call
- War Fund Drain. Every glitch in Russia’s energy embargo lets the Kremlin keep pumping money into its war machine.
- Human Toll. When a barrel of oil or a tank of gas lands in Kyiv’s hands, the price is a missile, a drone, or a shell that rains down on cities, leaving families shattered.
- Lack of Decisiveness. Half‑measures have only let the conflict simmer; full‑speed sanctions could silence it.
Words from Dr. Svitlana Romanko
Dr. Svitlana Romanko, Ukraine’s founder and executive director, summed it up: “Every day a loophole lets Russia earn a warm‑tooth dollar is another day our people feel the cold bite of war.” She calls on the Trump team to act fast, close gaps, and smash Russia’s war chest.
What’s at Stake?
- The immediate objective: strip Russia of its main funding sources.
- Long‑term goal: bring an end to the brutal assault on Ukraine so that fingers can stop tapping out misery.
The Bottom Line
It’s a hard stop for the war. Each dollar Russia earns from fuel fuels another missile that clouds Ukrainian skies. The time for “maybe” isn’t up—Trump must strengthen sanctions now and signal that the U.S. stands firmly against the violence.
For more stories and updates, keep following Razom We Stand’s latest calls.
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How Sanctions Have Been Playing a Game of Hide & Seek
- Under Biden, there were hefty sanctions on top Russian oil producers and a list of 183 “shadow fleet” vessels.
- Yet the same tactics that let Iran slip oil through smuggled ship havens have been co-opted by Russia.
- Result? Russia’s hydrocarbon exports keep rolling in, fuelling a 58 % jump in military spending in 2024 – it’s the biggest hike since the days of the Soviet Union.
Why the Trump Administration Is About to Jump In
Mike Waltz, the likely new National Security Advisor, has already stated a clear agenda: “We must enforce the real energy sanctions on Russia” and push for tighter controls on the sale of oil and gas. This speaks volumes about the looming shift in U.S. policy.
Shadow Fleet: The Dark Backbone of Russian Oil
The black‑market trucker of the shipping world—these murky vessels fly under false flags or obscure owners to sling Russian oil and LNG at inflated prices. While the Biden team slapped sanctions on many of them, many still linger.
Key players:
- Observed LNG projects like Yamal in the Arctic thriving because enforcement is still fuzzy.
- Companies such as Novatek and Gazprom keep reaping the royalties.
What the Trump Team Should Do Right Now
1. Close the remaining loopholes—ban imports of Russian‑derived refined oil into third‑party countries and pull the plug on U.S. ties with energy firms like SLB (Schlumberger), which supplies critical infrastructure to Moscow.
2. Expand targeted sanctions by designating every shadow fleet vessel that transports oil or LNG without the proper insurance or over the price cap, and also sanction their owners and operators.
3. Apply secondary sanctions—swing the hammer at buyers (think China) and logisticians who aid the shadow fleet’s operations.
History Is Waiting to Be Written
Now’s the window for the Trump administration to lead decisively. Fully sanctioning Russia’s energy sector would cut off the lifeline that fuels its war effort. Miss the chance? It would feel like a weak‑link in an international chain of moral leadership.
