Russia seeks clarification from United States on new Venezuela oil restrictions

The Kremlin announced on Wednesday that it will seek clarification from the United States US after the U.S. Treasury Department issued a general license to facilitate oil and gas exploration and production in Venezuela VE. The license explicitly does not authorize transactions involving Russian RU and Chinese CN nationals or entities, a move that directly impacts Moscow's commercial interests and long-term projects in the region.

This development is particularly significant as the U.S. Treasury Department issued the license immediately prior to the Kremlin's response. While the measure is intended to facilitate operations for U.S. oil companies within the Venezuelan oil and gas sector, it specifically excludes Russian and Chinese participants. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that the Russian government is seeking to understand how the license will function alongside broader U.S. restrictions.