


President Joe Biden is considering imposing stringent last-minute sanctions on Russia’s energy sector in the final weeks of his term, according to people familiar with his plans.
The rumored measures were reported on Christmas Eve and would aim to cripple the so-called “dark fleet” of ships transporting Russian oil to non-Western nations and target exporters who have thus far evaded penalties, four sources told the Washington Post.

The sanctions, which could also revoke licenses for banks to process Russian energy transactions, would be a significant blow to Biden’s economic campaign against Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the report.
Officials familiar with the discussions told the Washington Post that the move is intended to bolster Biden’s foreign policy legacy while giving President-elect Donald Trump leverage in negotiations with the Kremlin to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
Russia’s energy sector has been a lifeline for its economy, providing critical funds for its military operations.
The Biden administration has long avoided stringent measures on Russian energy exports, fearing a spike in global oil prices. However, a drop in gas prices and diminishing inflation has created an opportunity for Biden to tighten sanctions.
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Experts say the move would be a fitting end to Biden’s foreign policy in response to the Russia-Ukraine war that erupted in February of the second year of his presidency, when the economic instability at the time made maneuvers such as sanctions less practical for the United States.
The proposed sanctions would add to the existing limits imposed by Western nations on how much participating countries can pay for Russian oil, as Moscow has attempted to evade these measures by exporting to nations such as China and India.