The United States has not issued an order extending authorisation to buy Russian oil after the sanctions exemption expired on 16 May.
The last order allowing the delivery and sale of crude oil and petroleum products originating from Russia was issued on 17 April 2026. It only permitted the sale of oil that had been loaded onto vessels as of 17 April 2026.
Those exemptions expired on 16 May and no amended orders appeared on the website of the US Treasury Department.
On 15 May, it was reported that India asked the US to extend the sanctions exemption for Russian oil, as the war in Iran is still disrupting energy supplies.
In May 2026, Russian oil supplies to India stood at an unprecedented 2.3 million barrels per day. By the end of the month, the figure could still be a significant 1.9 million barrels per day.
