Berlin asks Washington to lift sanctions against Rosneft’s German unit
24 October 12:14
he German Chancellor Friedrich Merz believes that Rosneft should be granted an “exception” from the new US sanctions. “We will discuss this with the Americans,” Reuters quoted Merz as saying, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Earlier, Reuters reported that German authorities are seeking to protect Rosneft’s German subsidiaries from new US sanctions. According to these reports, a number of banks have already said that US sanctions may prevent them from doing business with the Russian oil company’s subsidiaries in Germany. The German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy told Reuters that US sanctions should not affect Rosneft’s German businesses, as they are under state control.
“Rosneft’s subsidiaries in Germany are managed by the state
We are talking about two German companies: Rosneft Deutschland and RN Refining & Marketing. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the German authorities deprived Rosneft of control over them and transferred them to the external trust management of the Federal Network Agency. Rosneft retained ownership. In September 2025, the trust management of Rosneft Deutschland was extended for another year.
Rosneft Deutschland accounts for about 12% of Germany’s oil refining capacity. The company has stakes in three major German refineries: PCK Schwedt in Schwedt, MiRo in Karlsruhe, and Bayernoil in Faubourg am Dunai.
Rosneft’s German companies are not on the US sanctions list
on October 22, the United States imposed sanctions against Rosneft, Lukoil and their group of companies. In total, the list includes 28 different subsidiaries of Rosneft and six of Lukoil. At the same time, neither Rosneft Deutschland nor RN Refining & Marketing are on the list of the US Treasury Department.
on October 22, a few hours before the announcement of the US sanctions, the UK lifted the sanctions on Rosneft Deutschland and RN Refining & Marketing. As a result, such concerns as the British-Dutch Shell can now cooperate with them.
