US calls extension of Russian oil sales permit a pragmatic decision

Washington (ANTARA) - United States Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that the decision to extend the permit for Russian oil sales is a pragmatic humanitarian measure, and Russian energy resources are already in the global market.

“We have just made a pragmatic short-term humanitarian decision; rather than letting all that oil go to China, let some of that oil go to India. Let some of that oil go to other countries in Asia that will refine the oil and provide energy to their people,” Wright told Fox News on Sunday (19/4).

Wright said that India exports fuel to the European Union, which is also in a very worried state regarding high energy prices.

“This is a short-term pragmatic decision to allow the oil that is already flowing to go in different directions,” he added.

Previously, on Saturday (18/4), the Office of Foreign Assets Control at the US Department of the Treasury issued a general licence for the shipment and sale of Russian oil, thereby extending the relaxation of US sanctions on crude oil loaded onto ships starting from Friday (17/4).