The US eases sanctions on key Russian banks to allow Russia to sell energy resources
30 April 2024 16:44
The US Treasury Department has authorised transactions with a number of Russian banks if they relate to the energy sector. The relevant licence has been published on the website of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
The list of banks that can work with includes:
- VTB,
- Central Bank,
- Sberbank,
- Alfa-Bank,
- “Otkritie Bank,
- Sovcombank,
- Rosbank,
- VEB.RF,
- “Zenit
- “St Petersburg.
Energy cooperation with these banks is allowed until 1 November and may be extended.
Activities “related to the energy sector” include everything that is at least remotely related to the energy sector.
“For the purposes of this general licence, the term ‘energy-related’ means the extraction, production, processing, liquefaction, gasification, regasification, conversion, enrichment, manufacture, transportation or purchase of petroleum, including crude oil, leased condensate, unfinished oil, liquid natural gas, petroleum products, natural gas or other products, capable of producing energy, such as coal, wood or agricultural products used for biofuel production, or uranium in any form, as well as the development, production, generation, transmission or exchange of electricity by any means, including nuclear, thermal and renewable energy sources,” the licence says,
– the licence says.
Thus, conditions are created for Russia to trade in energy carriers without hindrance.
Following the intensification of Ukrainian shelling of Russian oil refineries, it was reported that the United States was calling on Ukraine to stop attacks on Russian refineries. The media reported that Washington had repeatedly sent calls to the GRU and the SBU to stop attacks on Russian refineries. This information was not confirmed in Washington, but later, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin voiced a call not to attack Russian refineries.
