U.S. sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil are reshaping how pressure on Moscow spreads across global markets. In a new FREE NETWORK Policy Brief, SITE experts Maria Perrotta Berlin and Chloé Le Coq examine the fallout for Russia’s budget and the growing strains inside Europe’s sanctions coalition.
The policy brief, published on December 8, 2025, explains that the sanctions took full effect after a wind-down period ending on November 21, 2025. A central focus is the “secondary sanctions” risk. This risk can deter banks and firms worldwide from dealing with sanctioned entities. That leverage helps the United States extend pressure beyond its own jurisdiction.
Experts highlight how secondary sanctions change commercial behavior. When access to U.S. dollar payment channels is at stake, traders, insurers, and financial institutions often exit transactions. The brief links this dynamic to immediate market reactions, rising frictions for counterparties, and weaker revenue prospects for Russia’s oil sector. Over time, these pressures can reduce investment capacity and compress fiscal inflows tied to oil and gas exports.
The brief argues that lasting EU unity requires clearer burden-sharing and stronger energy integration, so security-of-supply concerns do not become permanent political veto points.
To read the full analysis by Maria Perrotta Berlin and Chloé Le Coq, see “U.S. Sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil: Pressure on Moscow, Strains on Europe” at the FREE NETWORK website.
Further Reading
Energy exports sit at the heart of Russia’s economy and have long served as a tool of geopolitical leverage. Sanctions targeting the energy sector are designed to curb state revenues and limit Moscow’s ability to project power abroad. For the latest research on sanctions on Russia and its energy industry, visit the Sanctions Portal Evidence Base section.
