Donald Trump ‘s sanctions on Russia’s oil giants are the strongest step he has taken yet against Vladimir Putin and could ramp up long-term pressure on the economy, the former UK ambassador to Moscow has told The i Paper .

The new US sanctions on Russian oil will be more effective in forcing the Kremlin into peace than providing long-range missiles such as Tomahawks to Ukraine, Sir Tony Brenton said.

The US announced new sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia’s largest oil companies, on Wednesday, the first time Trump has imposed direct costs on Moscow since returning to the White House. New Feature

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Sir Tony, who was ambassador to Russia from 2004 to 2008, said the sanctions were likely to ramp up pressure on the country’s ec

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