US Renews Sanctions Against Oil From Russia

• 14.04.2026, 20:45

The provisional license was not renewed.

U.S. sanctions against Russian oil are back in effect - after the Donald Trump administration last weekend failed to extend a delay that was imposed because of the U.S. war against Iran.

This was reported on April 14 by Politico.

The U.S. Treasury Department did not respond to the publication's inquiry about the expiration of the sanctions exemption, but referred to a March statement by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who called the move a "short-term measure."

According to Politico's sources, it was not clear until April 11 whether the sanctions waiver would be revoked by the department.

"Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Jeanne Shaheen, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Banking Committee member Elizabeth Warren pressured the Trump administration on April 10 not to renew the Treasury Department's general license, saying it allowed Russia and its enablers to make more than $4 billion," the publication wrote.

An aide to a Democratic senator, however, told Politico that the end of the sanctions exemption was "hardly a cause for rejoicing."

"Now this license further incentivizes all Russian middlemen to load up on sanctioned oil in anticipation of another 'windfall profit' from the license or because the Trump administration has signaled it is willing to quickly turn a blind eye to Russian oil to mitigate the effects of its Iran policy," he said."

At the same time, Ukrainian presidential sanctions commissioner Volodymyr Vlasiuk told Politico that official Kiev supports the U.S. decision not to extend a reprieve from sanctions on Russia.

"Reducing Russia's oil and gas revenues is a key tool in advancing peace efforts," he said.