US Tightens Sanctions Against Russian Oil, Gas and Banking Sectors – Media

CBS News reported this, citing internal sources, as reported by Ukrinform.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury Department lifted a 60-day moratorium the Biden administration had put in place in January allowing certain energy transactions with sanctioned Russian banks to continue. Effective immediately, Russian banks will no longer be able to use U.S. payment systems for large energy transactions.

Russian financial institutions that are not subject to sanctions include Vnesheconombank, Bank FC Otkritie, Sovcombank, Sberbank, VTB Bank, Alfa-Bank, Rosbank, Bank Zenit, Bank Saint Petersburg and the Central Bank of Russia.

The exclusion of Russian banks from the US financial system makes it more difficult for other countries to purchase Russian oil, thereby reducing global oil supplies from Russia.

Read also: Trump claims he has leverage over Russia

Tightening sanctions is part of Trump's strategy to pressure Russia to agree to a proposed 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine.

As Ukrinform reported, Trump said on Thursday that American officials were negotiating with “President Putin and others” on very serious issues.