The United States has not renewed a sanctions waiver that had allowed limited purchases and shipment of Russian oil cargoes, according to Economic Pravda, which reviewed listings from the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
The waiver had been part of a series of short-term exceptions that allowed certain Russian oil shipments already in transit to be completed amid global economic uncertainty in the fallout of the Iran war, despite broader sanctions imposed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The previous general license covered Russian crude oil and petroleum products already loaded onto vessels as of 17 April 2026. That exemption expired on 16 May, with no updated license appearing in the OFAC database at the time of reporting.
Series of temporary exemptions comes to an end
Earlier US measures included narrowly defined licenses allowing cargo already at sea to be delivered within a limited timeframe. These were introduced as short-term tools to manage market disruptions, but had drawn scrutiny from lawmakers who warned they risk softening sanctions pressure.
US officials have maintained that the broader sanctions framework against Russian energy exports remains in place, including restrictions on shipping, financing, and price mechanisms.
US President Donald Trump previously said sanctions on Russian oil exports temporarily eased due to global energy market pressures will be reinstated once the crisis in the Middle East ends, saying the move was aimed at keeping global oil supplies stable.
Russian oil exports to key markets remain elevated
Russian crude flows to India remain high, with imports reported at around 2.3 million barrels per day in May 2026, according to market data cited in the reporting.
India had previously sought an extension of the waiver, citing ongoing instability in global energy markets.
Despite the expiration of the specific exemption, the wider US sanctions regime on Russian oil continues to apply. The change reflects the end of a temporary licensing approach that had allowed limited flexibility for cargo already loaded at sea.
