Donald Trump has sparked outrage after waiving a ban on India buying Russian oil for 30 days, effectively handing Vladimir Putin a financial lifeline. The decision comes amid rising tensions over high fuel prices, which Trump fears could damage his popularity.
Sanctions imposed since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine have acted like a tourniquet on the Russian economy, with regional figures showing central state debts being shifted to local entities. Even Moscow has admitted to cutting its investment programme for the first time since the Covid pandemic, with a 10% reduction in investments and 15% of municipal staff being let go.
Despite some successes, such as US freezing of Rosneft and Lukoil assets and the seizure of shadow fleet tankers, enforcement remains rare. Ukraine appears to have taken matters into its own hands, reportedly sabotaging a Russian gas tanker, the Arctic Metagaz, which sank off Malta last week.
Meanwhile, a thriving export of cars to Russia continues, with Chinese-made vehicles from sanctioned brands accounting for nearly half of the 130,000 cars sold in Russia in 2025. The article argues that European authorities must bolster measures, including stopping the flow of luxury cars, to maintain the effectiveness of sanctions.
