The US is preparing new sanctions against Russia if Putin refuses peace. Three options considered

Washington is preparing a new round of sanctions against Russia's energy sector to increase pressure on Moscow if it rejects a peace deal with Ukraine, Bloomberg News reported, citing sources, according to Reuters.

A White House official told Reuters that US President Donald Trump had not made any new decisions on sanctions.

“It's the agencies' role to prepare options for the president to execute,” the official explained.

Three options are considered

Bloomberg wrote that the US is considering three options, including the possibility of targeting ships in Russia's so-called shadow fleet, made up of oil tankers used for export, as well as traders who facilitate these transactions.

The new measures are likely to be announced as early as this week, according to the publication, and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has discussed the matter with a group of ambassadors.

“It is patently false to conclude that decisions have been made on future sanctions against Russia. As we have said for months, all options remain on the table in support of President Trump's tireless efforts to stop senseless crime and achieve lasting peace,” a Treasury spokesman said.

Asked about the Bloomberg article, the Kremlin said it had not seen the article, but that any sanctions hurt efforts to mend U.S.-Russia relations.

Also on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened that Russia would “liberate its territories” by military means if Kiev and its “masters” abandon the negotiations. The Russian leader expressed confidence that the goals of the “special military operation”, the phrase used by the Kremlin regarding the war in Ukraine, “will be achieved”.

“Today, we heard another signal from Moscow that they are preparing to make next year a year of war,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted in his message on Wednesday evening, as quoted by France 24.