US lifts or eases sanctions against Russia and Belarus about 16 times last year – Vlasiuk

The Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, stated this during a TV broadcast, according to Ukrinform.

"We calculated that over the past year there were approximately 16 cases when the United States lifted or eased sanctions against Russian companies, Russians, or Belarusian companies and Belarusians," he said.

Vlasiuk noted that the easing of sanctions on Russian oil by the United States was an unexpected step. According to him, during a meeting the American side had assured that the exemption for Russian oil would no longer be extended.

The official added that the United States Department of the Treasury understands that non-Russian oil cannot compensate for the consequences of a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

"Congress does not understand why sanctions against Russia should be eased. Congress clearly understands that the only way to accelerate peace between Ukraine and Russia is to increase pressure on Russia. An effective way to increase pressure is to tighten sanctions on Russian oil. We will see whether this verbal support turns into, for example, a bill that we have long heard about but which has not yet been introduced — by Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal. There are also other initiatives in Congress. At the same time, there is complete shock that drones manufactured by the Russian Federation in March contain American components from late 2025," he said.

As Ukrinform reported, the United States issued a new license allowing the supply and sale of crude oil and petroleum products of Russian origin that were loaded onto vessels before April 17.