Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded to the latest US sanctions targeting Russia's major oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, describing them as "serious" but asserting they will not significantly harm the Russian economy. Speaking to reporters in Moscow, Putin stated, "They (sanctions) are serious for us, of course, that is clear. And they will have certain consequences, but they will not significantly impact our economic well-being."

He labelled the sanctions an "unfriendly act" that does not contribute to improving Russia-US relations, which he noted had only recently begun to recover. The sanctions were imposed by the Trump administration as part of efforts to pressure Russia into peace talks regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that these measures were a direct response to Russia's continued military actions, urging allies to comply with the sanctions. President Trump expressed hope that the sanctions would encourage dialogue between the involved parties, stating, "Hopefully he’ll become reasonable," referring to Putin, and added, "And hopefully Zelenskyy will be reasonable too. You know, it takes two to tango."

Putin emphasized that Russia would not yield to external pressure, asserting, "No self-respecting country and no self-respecting people ever decides anything under pressure." He also warned that any attacks on Russian territory would provoke a "very serious and overwhelming" response.

The sanctions come amid heightened tensions, with reports suggesting Ukraine may acquire long-range missiles from the US. Putin cautioned that such developments could escalate the situation further, stating, "This is an attempt at escalation. But if such weapons are used to attack Russian territory, the response will be very serious, if not overwhelming. Let them think about it."

Despite the sanctions, Putin expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue, stating, "Dialogue is always better than confrontation or any disputes, and especially war. We have always supported the continuation of dialogue."