Putin rubs his hands, and Russian oil returns in glory. Bessent: we released her from sanctions

US Finance Minister Scott Bessent explained on Wednesday that he had decided to extend the exemption from sanctions on Russian crude oil at the request of the “energy poorest countries”. He also claimed that without it, the price of oil would reach $150 per barrel.

This is how Bessent explained in the Senate on Wednesday his decision last week to extend the suspension of sanctions on Russian oil loaded on ships by a month, contrary to previous announcements.

In response to criticism of the move by Democratic senator Chris Coons, the minister said that he originally planned not to renew the license for Russian oil, but changed his mind on this subject after talks with representatives of other countries during meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

– More than 10 of the most vulnerable and poorest countries in terms of energy came to me and asked us to extend this (suspension) of sanctions. And only for 30 days, he said.

Bessent also claimed he “couldn't disagree more” with the claim that Russia benefited from being allowed to sell its oil freely. As he argued, without this move, global oil prices would reach $150 per barrel.

– If Russia sold oil with 20 percent discount (with sanctions – PAP), I can say that 100 percent. from $100 that's less than 80 percent. from $150, and the American consumer was in a better situation because of it, Bessent said.

Coons, who questioned him, disagreed with Bessent's analysis, noting that neither oil nor gasoline prices dropped significantly after the sanctions were suspended. He also referred to calculations according to which Russia earned $150 million from the suspension of sanctions. more every day.

From Washington Oskar Górzyński (PAP)

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