Fri Jan 10 18:09:06 UTC 2025: ## Biden Administration Imposes Sweeping New Sanctions on Russia’s Energy Sector

**Washington, D.C. –** In a final act before leaving office, the Biden administration announced sweeping new sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector, aiming to further cripple the Russian economy amid its ongoing war in Ukraine. The sanctions, unveiled Friday, January 10th, 2025, are described as the most significant to date, impacting key oil and liquefied natural gas sectors and potentially costing Russia billions of dollars monthly.

The measures target over 180 oil tankers suspected of being part of a “shadow fleet” used to circumvent existing sanctions, as well as numerous traders, oil field service firms, and Russian energy officials. Several of these vessels are also suspected of transporting sanctioned Iranian oil. The U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated that these actions are designed to increase the risk associated with Russia’s oil trade.

In a coordinated effort, the U.K. also imposed sanctions on major Russian oil producers Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, and their subsidiaries. These two companies alone produce over 1 million barrels of oil daily. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized that oil revenues are crucial to funding the war effort.

White House officials stated that the timing of the sanctions – just days before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration – was strategic, coinciding with a period of relative calm in global oil markets. The administration also announced travel bans on 14 senior Rosatom officials and their families.

While the Biden administration informed the incoming Trump team of the sanctions, it remains uncertain whether the new administration will maintain them. President-elect Trump has expressed a desire to quickly end the conflict in Ukraine and has previously voiced a more conciliatory stance towards President Vladimir Putin, even suggesting a meeting with him. The Kremlin dismissed the new sanctions as a parting shot from the Biden administration. The sanctions utilize an authority approved during Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. Any attempt by the Trump administration to overturn the sanctions would require Congressional notification and approval. The ongoing situation adds a layer of complexity to the already tense geopolitical landscape. The new sanctions follow a $500 million military aid package to Ukraine announced the previous day.

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