
President Joe Biden’s decision to impose harsh sanctions on Russia’s oil industry in the final days of his presidency is drawing widespread criticism, with many accusing him of deliberately making it harder for President-elect Donald Trump to pursue peace between Russia and Ukraine. The sanctions are also expected to raise gas prices for American consumers already struggling with high costs.
During a recent press conference, Biden refused to explain why he delayed the sanctions until now, only stating that they would weaken Russia’s economy and disrupt President Vladimir Putin’s war strategy. Critics argue that this last-minute move was intended to box in the incoming Trump administration and complicate its foreign policy goals.
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 new sanctions target Russia’s largest oil producers and over 180 oil-carrying vessels, aiming to choke off billions of dollars in revenue Moscow uses to fund its war in Ukraine. This aggressive step follows Biden’s approval of billions in military aid to Ukraine and authorization for U.S.-supplied weapons to be used in strikes inside Russia.
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
Global oil markets reacted quickly to the announcement, with prices jumping more than 3%, signaling that American families could soon face even higher gas prices. While Biden downplayed the impact, suggesting only a slight rise in fuel costs, energy experts warn the economic fallout could be far worse.
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
President Donald Trump has promised to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine by bringing both sides to the negotiating table. However, Biden’s sudden economic escalation risks undermining Trump’s efforts to end the conflict and could lock the United States into prolonged involvement in the war.
Many see Biden’s actions as a calculated effort to prioritize his own foreign policy agenda over the country’s economic well-being and global stability. By tightening sanctions on Russia at the last moment, Biden appears more focused on limiting Trump’s diplomatic flexibility than supporting a peaceful resolution to the war.