The United States and Britain on Friday imposed more sanctions on Russia’s energy sector to prevent funding for Moscow’s all-out invasion of Ukraine.

The U.S. Treasury Department said it was designating two of Russia’s largest oil companies, Gazprom Neft and Sergtneftigas, as “reducing Russian energy revenues.” The G7 pledge to do so is being met.”

The sanctions also apply to 183 vessels that the US government believes are part of Moscow’s “shadow fleet” of vessels allegedly used to evade existing sanctions on Russian oil shipments. were

In addition, the measures target liquefied natural gas-specific projects and infrastructure, as well as subcontractors, service providers, traders and marine insurers, the Treasury Department said.

Britain maintains sanctions with the United States.

At the same time, the UK government imposed its own sanctions on Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, saying their profits were lining “(Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s war chest and facilitating war” in Ukraine.

British Foreign Secretary David Lemmy said that “dealing with Russian oil companies will destroy Russia’s war chest and every ruble we take from Putin’s hands helps save lives in Ukraine”.

Between them, the two companies produce more than 1 million barrels of oil per day, worth $23 billion (22.4 billion euros) a year, the Foreign Office said.

Britain has already approved around 100 ships in Russia’s “shadow fleet” carrying oil as Ukraine’s Western allies look to increase economic pressure on Moscow ahead of talks to end the war.

It’s up to Trump whether to keep the sanctions in place

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the US administration chose this time, just 10 days before President Joe Biden leaves office, to crack down on oil because concerns about global oil markets have eased. are done, said White House national security spokesman John Kirby.

Biden told reporters he expected the move to cost drivers “three, four cents a gallon” at the pump.

Biden administration officials said it will ultimately be up to President-elect Donald Trump’s administration to decide whether to maintain or lift the new restrictions.

Biden and Zielinski discuss US support, sanctions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed new US sanctions against Russia’s oil sector and its so-called shadow tanker fleet.

“These actions deal a significant blow to the financial base of Russia’s war machine by disrupting its entire supply chain,” he wrote on X.

According to the White House, Biden spoke with Zelensky shortly after the sanctions were announced, discussing his administration’s continued support for efforts to rein in Russia and the need to continue that support.

In a social media post, Zelensky thanked Biden for Washington’s support in Ukraine’s nearly three-year war with Russia and for “America’s important role in uniting the international community.”

Zelensky later expressed gratitude for British sanctions against Russian oil companies, saying on X that London “creates another significant obstacle to Putin’s ability to finance aggression.”

dh/wmr (AP, AFP, DPA, Reuters)