Ukraine has called on the United States administration to restore sanctions that limit trade in Russian oil. This appeal was made by Ukrainian Ambassador to the US, Olha Stefanishyna, in a social media post on Saturday.
Stefanishyna emphasized the importance of preventing Russia from benefiting from its alliance with Iran. She stated, “We urge the US administration to reinstate sanctions on Russian oil and petroleum products.” The ambassador highlighted that curbing the funding that Russia uses for its military actions against Ukraine and to support adversaries of the US is a shared interest for both Kyiv and Washington.
She warned that if Russia perceives destabilization and warfare as advantageous, it could lead to further global issues. Stefanishyna noted that a Russian representative had already referred to the lifting of oil restrictions as a form of “cooperation.”
On April 18, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a new license allowing transactions involving the supply and sale of Russian oil and petroleum products that were loaded onto vessels as of April 17, 2026.
Ukraine's ambassador to the US has urged the reinstatement of sanctions on Russian oil, citing concerns over funding for military actions against Ukraine. The call comes after a recent US license allowed certain oil transactions, which Ukraine views as detrimental to its security interests.