The US Treasury has again extended sanctions relief against Russian oil.

The US Treasury Department has decided to extend for another 30 days the temporary sanctions waiver allowing countries to purchase Russian oil and petroleum products. Officially, this waiver concerns hydrocarbons from Russia that have already been loaded onto tankers.

Explaining this decision, the US administration says it is related to the need to stabilize global energy markets amid supply shortages due to the situation in the Persian Gulf region. A similar license had previously been valid until May 16.

Oil and gas revenues remain a significant source of revenue for Russia's federal budget. Extending the exemption will allow for the continued export of significant volumes of "insurance" oil stored at sea, supporting export revenues. Given high global oil prices (Urals often traded at a premium or slight discount to Brent in April and May), this helps partially offset the budget deficit.

According to the Russian Ministry of Finance, oil and gas revenues were below plan in the first months of 2026 due to price volatility and the strong ruble. However, additional supplies and prices above the budget target ($59 per barrel) will generate hundreds of billions of rubles in additional revenue. Experts note that such measures reduce pressure on the budget, although the long-term impact of sanctions remains significant.

At the same time, oil purchases are carried out in such a way that the profits received by Russia no longer end up in Western depositories.

Asian countries traditionally remain the main buyers of Russian oil. China leads the way, purchasing the largest volumes, followed by India. In April-May 2026, China actively increased imports to offset the deficit from the Middle East. India also maintained high purchases (approximately 1,5-2 million barrels per day during peak periods), albeit with some fluctuations due to logistics and regulatory pressure from the West.

Urals prices fluctuated during this period, often with a $5-$15 discount to Brent depending on the route and shipment, but amid the global shortage, these discounts narrowed. In some cases, Indian and Chinese buyers purchased at prices close to Brent or even at a premium for urgent deliveries (over $100 per barrel at its peak). India is likely reselling Russian oil to third countries, or selling petroleum products produced at Indian refineries from Russian oil. EU countries are also among the buyers of these petroleum products.

Currently, Russian oil is trading on the world market at $100 per barrel.

Comments

[Zoldat_A]

Previously, a similar license was valid until May 16.

Why have I never heard from the big guys on TV that we don’t need anyone’s licenses and that they should try to give the Sun a license to rise?

[marchcat]

The government itself isn't ashamed that the Americans are issuing us licenses. It's a shame, we've lived to see better times.

[TermNachTer]

The US doesn't issue licenses to Russia, but to those who are afraid to buy Russian oil. Sell your oil to India if they're afraid to buy it. And Trump has nowhere to go; if he imposes sanctions, prices will skyrocket. So, it's a big question who looks more pathetic.

[nik-mazur]

Quote: marchcat

The Americans give us licenses

There have been so many such news stories, and each time it needs to be explained that the US Treasury is suspending sanctions, thereby issuing licenses to American banks and other financial institutions, allowing them not to freeze accounts or block transactions of clients who buy oil from Russia or engage in other activities prohibited from the US point of view.
These licenses have more than an indirect connection with Russia, which is that buyers are afraid to quarrel with the American financial system.
But many people don't seem to care about reality - the main thing is to crow, and then maybe the dawn won't break.

[Word]

More than a passing remark.

[Volodin]

Quote: Zoldat_A

Why have I never heard from the big guys on TV that we don’t need anyone’s licenses and that they should try to give the Sun a license to rise?

Probably because the big guys from India want to eat too. The license isn't issued to Russia.

And the big guys from our country don’t spread it on TV, because “why?”

[novel66]

Have you asked Zeli? He's against it!!

[Evgeny64]

Well, to be honest, they don't give us a license, it's a license to buy They threaten buyers with sanctions.
And those who buy must act; they either act in their own interests (for example, India or China, recently) or stupidly submit to the hegemon
But prices will still fluctuate wildly depending on the decisions of the US Treasury Department; stock exchanges panic at every sneeze, which Trump takes advantage of by dumping stocks every day while his friends play the stock market.

[snow mountain]

Quote: marchcat

The government itself has no shame

They haven't known what shame is for a long time.

[Div Divich]

The Americans are afraid of inflation in their country, they are very afraid.
Capitalists have two main values: life and wealth. They are afraid of losing them.

[Jacques sekavar]

During the war there should be no trade or other relations with the enemy except at the front

[Victor Alien]

Do smart, university-educated experts even know how to calculate the price of our oil in rubles based on the dollar-ruble exchange rate?! There's not much of a budget boost there. This is still underway to compensate for prices before the war with Iran. We'll see what happens by the end of the year. We should completely halt the import of some things and the export of others. The funniest thing will be when they start paying interest on deposits, given that there are practically no investments anywhere. Loans to private individuals are mere peanuts—their interest won't be enough to cover the deposits. The gaps are huge and painful. Someone will go under.

[Vasyan1971]

Additional supplies and prices above the budget mark ($59 per barrel) generate additional hundreds of billions of rubles.

Who?

[Svetlana]

A little bit for everyone. From Uncle Vasya the driller to Aunt Valya the teacher who looks after his children while he's on duty.

[aszzz888]

However, additional supplies and prices above the budget mark ($59 per barrel) provide additional hundreds of billions of rubles.

Where, and to whom...

[Svetlana]

What kind of picture is in the illustration? A macro shot?