Washington says slaps sanctions on Rosneft Trading over Venezuela

WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (PRIME) -- The U.S. has slapped sanctions on Swiss company Rosneft Trading SA, a subsidiary of Russian oil major Rosneft, and on Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors Didier Casimiro over exports of Venezuelan oil, a high-ranked official in the U.S. administration told reporters on Monday.

The company helped the government of Nicolas Maduro to avoid the U.S. sanctions. In the past month, it organized exports of 2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude to Western Africa. In the autumn of 2019, Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA discussed supplies of 55 million barrels of crude with Rosneft Trading, the official said.

The U.S. authority also provided a 90-day period to its allies, including the allies in Europe and Germany, to sever relations with Rosneft Trading, the official added.

This action is also a signal for Russia that Washington is ready to take other measures against Russia, the official said.

Casimiro is also Rosneft’s vice president for refining, petrochemical, commerce, and logistics.

The U.S. has repeatedly accused Rosneft and its subsidiaries of exporting Venezuelan oil.

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