New U.S. sanctions will weaken Russia, but won't change Putin's strategic plans — diplomat

Diplomat Roman Bezsmertnyi stated this on Espreso TV.

"The sanctions are a very serious step by the U.S., as Rosneft is the world's largest public company and the second-largest by production volume. Lukoil is the world's largest vertically integrated company, meaning it covers the entire cycle—from extraction to the sale of light fuels and lubricants—and is the fifth or sixth largest by production volume," Bezsmertnyi explained.

According to the diplomat, the sanctions against the oil giants will affect Russia, but they will not change the strategic plans of Putin or his entourage, the essence of which is war, war, and more war.

"Putin's regime has reached a point where it exists because it is at war, and it is at war because it exists. Any steps will only be partial. And until Trump realizes the need to form a coalition of freedom and democracy, even such serious tools as sanctions against Lukoil and Rosneft will not change the strategic plans of Moscow and Putin," Bezsmertnyi added.

• On Wednesday, October 22, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions against Russia's two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, due to Moscow's unwillingness to end the war in Ukraine.