Biden weighs new curbs on Russia’s energy sector

KABUL (Pajhwok): Outgoing US President Joe Biden is mulling over the imposition of new sanctions on Russia’s energy sector, reports an influential American newspaper.

In his final weeks in office, Biden is weighing a parting blow in the US financial war against Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the Washington Post.

If imposed, the new curbs would give the incoming government of Donald Trump more leverage in talks with Russia on ending the Ukraine war, the daily quoted unnamed officials as saying.

The incumbent US administration is said to be discussing restrictions on the fleet transporting Russian oil in circumvention of current sanctions and Russian oil exporters who have not been sanctioned yet.

At the same time, Washington is also considering scrapping licences allowing banks to process transactions related to Russian energy exports.

Previously, the US avoided taking such measures against Russia to check a sharp rise in oil prices in the international market.

PAN Monitor/mud