The United States has extended a sanctions waiver allowing the purchase of Russian oil already loaded onto vessels, a move Kyiv has criticised as the war in Ukraine continues.
The updated waiver permits transactions involving oil and petroleum products loaded as of Friday, April 17th and remains valid until May 16th. The measure, announced by the U.S. Treasury, is intended to help stabilize global energy supplies amid disruption linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concern over the decision, saying that continued revenues from oil exports contribute to Russia’s war effort:
Every dollar paid for Russian oil is money for the war.
The U.S. claims that the waiver will ease the energy supply crunch sparked by the war involving Iran. The conflict has disrupted global energy markets, with Iran targeting regional sites and effectively shutting the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil and gas shipments.
Zelensky also said Russia operates more than 110 tankers as part of a so-called “shadow fleet” used to bypass sanctions. He claimed these shipments could generate around $10bn (€8.7bn) in revenue, though he did not specify the source of the figures.
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