US excludes Cuba from Rosneft operations after information about tankers heading there

The United States has excluded Cuba, North Korea and occupied Crimea from the permit for transactions with Russian oil.

This was reported by Reuters.

According to the US Treasury Department, the United States issued a new general license on Thursday, March 19, to replace a previous waiver of sanctions for the sale of crude oil and petroleum products of Russian origin loaded on tankers as of March 12.

The license, which expires on April 11, replaces a similar 30-day waiver of sanctions issued on March 12.

While the basic terms remain identical to those in the previously issued license, the new waiver of sanctions specifically excludes transactions related to North Korea, Cuba and occupied Crimea.

This came after information appeared in the media about two tankers with Russian oil and gas heading to Cuba. If the ships reach the island, it would be the first energy shipments to Cuba in three months. The last shipment of oil arrived in Cuba from Mexico on January 9, but the country has since stopped supplying energy to the island.