The Trump administration officially extended a critical sanctions waiver on April 18, 2026, allowing international maritime entities to continue the purchase and transport of Russian seaborne oil for an additional 30 days. The decision, issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) under General License 108-B, maintains a loophole in the broader sanctions regime established to penalize Moscow. This marks the third such short-term extension since the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East earlier this year.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the extension is a necessary temporary measure to ensure global energy stability. The administration cited the ongoing military conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran as the primary driver for the move. With the Strait of Hormuz currently designated as a high-risk combat zone, global crude supplies have faced unprecedented logistical bottlenecks. Administration officials argued that a total cutoff of Russian supply at this juncture would exacerbate the energy shocks currently impacting domestic and allied economies.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from a bipartisan coalition in the U.S. Senate. Senator James Risch and Senator Ben Cardin issued a joint statement from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemning the waiver as a strategic retreat that provides the Kremlin with essential hard currency. The committee noted that Russian oil revenues have increased by an estimated 14 percent over the last quarter due to rising global benchmarks, despite the nominal price cap of 60 dollars per barrel. Lawmakers argued that the policy effectively subsidizes Russia's military efforts while the U.S. is simultaneously engaged in supporting Israeli operations.
European leaders have also expressed formal dissent. In Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen characterized the U.S. decision as inconsistent with the G7’s unified stance on Russian containment. France and Poland reportedly led a diplomatic protest within the North Atlantic Council, arguing that the waiver undermines the efficacy of the 2024 Energy Security Pact. European officials noted that while they remain committed to the US-Israeli alliance against Tehran, the reliance on Russian energy to offset Middle Eastern shortfalls creates a contradictory security posture that weakens the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's leverage.
The waiver applies specifically to seaborne crude and petroleum products, provided they are sold to designated partners in the Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean regions. Under the terms of the extension, financial institutions are permitted to process payments for these shipments through May 18, 2026. The Treasury Department emphasized that all other sanctions against the Russian financial sector and military-industrial complex remain in full force. This development follows a week of intense deliberations within the National Security Council regarding the trade-offs between isolating Moscow and managing the fallout of the regional war in the Middle East.