Russia’s attempt to blame Ukraine, which Trump has now parroted, is part of a longstanding argument that doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine three years ago has turned into Europe’s largest conflict since World War II

Washington led an international campaign for tough economic penalties after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Dozens of countries have punished Russian banks, businesses and oligarchs. They froze $300 billion of Russia’s assets, barred it from much of the global financial system and restricted what it could buy and sell.

European Union ambassadors agreed Wednesday to move forward with a fresh package of sanctions targeting Russian aluminum imports and its shadow oil tanker fleet as the bloc tries to tighten the pressure on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.