The United States is imposing new sanctions against the Russian energy and banking sectors. Restrictions have been tightened in relation to the oil and gas sectors, CBS reported, citing sources familiar with the plans of the administration of President Donald Trump.
Russia considers the sanctions illegal. There were no official statements about the introduction of new US sanctions against Russia.
Reuters previously reported, citing the US Treasury, that the United States had not extended the 8L general license, which allowed foreign companies to conduct transactions for energy resources through Russian sub-sanctioned banks.
The reasons for this step were not specified in the US Treasury. A Fox News source, whose words were quoted by channel journalist Edward Lawrence on the social network X, explained that this is part of the US negotiating tactics so that European countries can no longer purchase Russian oil without the threat of sanctions.
The 8L license expired on March 12, 2025. The permit allowed transactions with several Russian banks to be settled when buying lots of oil, gas, coal and other energy resources.
Information about the possible tightening of sanctions against Russia by the United States appeared a few days after the talks between American and Ukrainian representatives in Jeddah. They took place on March 11.
After negotiations with the United States, Ukraine declared its readiness for a 30-day ceasefire. Washington should resume providing Kiev with weapons and intelligence, said the head of the office of the Ukrainian president, Andrei Yermak.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that Moscow agrees with the proposal for a cease-fire, but stressed that there are nuances. According to two Reuters sources, Russia has handed over to the United States its demands for an armistice agreement with Ukraine. They are similar to those that Moscow voiced earlier, including Ukraine's rejection of NATO membership and recognition of Crimea and four new regions as Russian, the agency claimed. Ukraine called part of these demands, including Kiev's refusal from NATO membership, as well as territories, a red line.
US President Donald Trump found Putin's statement on the truce promising, but not complete. He expressed the hope that Russia would "do the right thing," and also stated his readiness to discuss a ceasefire proposal with his colleague. Earlier, the Republican allowed both tightening and lifting of anti-Russian sanctions.
Bloomberg previously reported on the visit of the special envoy of the American president Steve Witkoff to Moscow to meet with Putin. The Flightradar service on March 13 showed that the Gulfstream G650ER aircraft, which is associated with Witkoff, landed at Vnukovo airport.
Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin would "inform in a timely manner" if the meeting between Putin and Witkoff took place. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said that the meeting would be held in the evening of March 13 in a closed format, and that the American diplomat would be called to The Kremlin, after a signal from the president, reminds RBC.