What's happened
As of late October 2025, the US administration, led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and President Donald Trump, is intensifying pressure on allies like Japan and India to halt imports of Russian energy. Japan continues limited LNG imports from Russia’s Sakhalin-2 project, while China receives shipments from blacklisted Russian LNG facilities. Trump also seeks to involve Europe in tariffs on Chinese imports linked to Russian oil purchases.
What's behind the headline?
US Strategy to Isolate Russia Economically
The US is leveraging diplomatic and economic tools to sever Russia’s energy revenue streams, a critical source of funding for its military operations in Ukraine. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s direct engagement with Japan’s Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato signals a firmer US stance, pressing Japan to phase out Russian LNG imports despite its energy security concerns.
Japan’s Energy Dilemma
Japan’s reliance on Russian LNG, particularly from the Sakhalin-2 project, complicates its ability to fully comply with US and G7 sanctions. While Japan has pledged to coordinate with G7 countries to achieve peace in Ukraine, it balances this with domestic energy needs, as Russian LNG accounts for about 9-10% of its total LNG imports.
Expanding Pressure Beyond Allies
President Trump’s efforts to involve Europe in imposing tariffs on Chinese imports linked to Russian oil purchases represent a novel approach to widen economic pressure on Russia. The proposed 500% tariffs aim to disrupt Russia’s oil funding by targeting its largest buyer, China, and funnel proceeds into a “victory fund” for Ukraine’s defense.
Geopolitical Implications
This multifaceted approach reflects US intent to isolate Russia economically while maintaining diplomatic channels, as evidenced by planned talks between Trump and Putin. However, the complexity of global energy markets and allies’ varying dependencies on Russian energy pose challenges to a unified front.
Outlook
The US push will likely intensify diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia, but Japan and other allies may proceed cautiously due to energy security concerns. The success of tariff proposals depends on European cooperation and the willingness of major buyers like China and India to reduce Russian energy imports. This dynamic will shape the trajectory of the Ukraine conflict and global energy politics in the coming months.
What the papers say
Scott Bessent’s meeting with Japan’s Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato, reported by The Moscow Times and The Independent’s Shweta Sharma, highlights the US administration’s expectation that Japan stop importing Russian energy. Bessent stated on social media platform X that they discussed "important issues pertaining to the U.S.-Japan economic relationship and the Administration's expectation that Japan stop importing Russian energy." Kato responded cautiously, emphasizing Japan’s commitment to coordinate with G7 countries to achieve peace in Ukraine but did not confirm an immediate halt to imports.
President Donald Trump’s statements, covered by South China Morning Post and NY Post, reveal efforts to pressure India and China to cease Russian oil purchases. Trump claimed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to stop buying Russian oil soon, though the Indian embassy has not confirmed this. Trump also plans to persuade China to follow suit. The NY Post detailed a proposed bill co-authored by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal to impose 500% tariffs on countries importing Russian energy, with proceeds funding Ukraine’s defense. This bill has faced delays due to concerns over presidential foreign policy powers.
Bloomberg’s reporting on the Iris vessel carrying LNG from the blacklisted Arctic LNG 2 facility to China’s Beihai terminal underscores China’s continued receipt of restricted Russian LNG shipments, marking its 11th such shipment since late August 2025. This contrasts with US efforts to isolate Russia economically.
Together, these sources illustrate a complex geopolitical landscape where the US is intensifying pressure on allies to cut Russian energy ties, while some countries maintain limited imports due to economic and energy security considerations.
How we got here
Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the US and G7 countries imposed sanctions targeting Russian energy exports to cut Kremlin funding for the war. Japan initially stopped Russian crude oil imports but maintains LNG imports from Sakhalin-2 for energy security. The US has sought to tighten these ties, urging allies to end Russian energy purchases and proposing tariffs on countries importing Russian energy to fund Ukraine’s defense.
Go deeper
- How is Japan balancing energy security with US pressure to cut Russian imports?
- What is the proposed US tariff bill on Russian energy imports?
- How are China and India responding to US demands to stop buying Russian oil?
Common question
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Why Is the US Urging Allies to Stop Importing Russian Energy?
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Why Is the US Pressuring Allies to Stop Buying Russian Energy?
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Scott K. H. Bessent is an American hedge fund manager. He is the founder of Key Square Group, a global macro investment firm, and worked as a financier for George Soros.
Bessent has been a major fundraiser and donor for Donald Trump. He was an economic ad
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Japan is an island country of East Asia in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It borders the Sea of Japan to the west and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south.
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Narendra Damodardas Modi is an Indian politician serving as the 14th and current Prime Minister of India since 2014. He was the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014, and is the Member of Parliament for Varanasi.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Peter Brian Hegseth (born June 6, 1980) is an American government official and former television personality who has served since 2025 as the 29th United States secretary of defense.
Hegseth studied politics at Princeton University, where he was the publi
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Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008.