Energy Moscow satisfied after US relaxes oil sanctions
In view of the sharp rise in oil prices, the USA is allowing countries to buy Russian oil to a limited extent. The reaction from Moscow is prompt.
13.03.2026, 10:20
SDA
Following the temporary easing of US sanctions on Russian oil, Moscow is confident and satisfied. "The USA is in fact recognizing the obvious: Without Russian oil, the global energy market cannot remain stable," wrote Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev on Telegram.
On Friday night, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on X that countries would be allowed to temporarily buy Russian oil that was already on ships. The aim is to improve supply on the world market. The temporary exemption from US sanctions is to apply until April 11.
Dmitriev, who was in the USA for economic talks just this week, now spoke of around 100 million barrels of Russian oil in transit. Against the backdrop of the worsening energy crisis, a further easing of restrictions on Russian energy sources seems increasingly unavoidable, Dmitriev wrote. "Despite the resistance of part of the Brussels bureaucracy." 100 million barrels of oil are roughly equivalent to global consumption in one day.
Dmitriev is Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's special representative for economic cooperation with foreign countries and also plays an important role in the negotiations on ending Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. From Moscow's point of view, his main task is to influence Washington's position and improve economic relations.
For Moscow, income from the energy business is important for the war chest. The EU and the USA have been imposing sanctions on the Russian oil sector for years. The global energy markets are very volatile as a result of the Iran war, and oil and gas prices have risen sharply since the war began almost two weeks ago.
