US Grants Indefinite Exemption to Rosneft's German Subsidiary

The United States has granted an indefinite exemption from sanctions to the German subsidiary of Russian state-owned oil giant Rosneft, ensuring the continued operation of key refining facilities in Germany amid heightened global energy concerns. The decision, announced by the U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday, comes as escalating tensions in the Middle East disrupt oil supplies and raise fears of shortages across Europe.

Rosneft Deutschland holds stakes in three major German refineries, including the PCK Schwedt plant, which together process about 13 percent of the country's total refining capacity. These facilities have supplied roughly 90 percent of Berlin's fuel needs. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Germany placed the assets under state trusteeship to decouple them from the sanctioned parent company, allowing operations to continue while ownership remained with Rosneft. However, fresh U.S. sanctions imposed on Rosneft in October 2025 created uncertainty, barring American firms and financial institutions from dealings with the company and its subsidiaries.

Berlin initially secured a temporary license, extended every six months, with a deadline of April 29,...