Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:13am on 19 May 2026,Tuesday India Global
The United States has extended a temporary sanctions waiver allowing Russian seaborne oil already in transit to reach buyers until June 17, offering relief to major importers such as India amid continued global energy uncertainty. The move comes as India’s imports of discounted Russian crude remain near record highs following disruptions caused by the West Asia conflict and instability around the Strait of Hormuz. While the waiver does not remove sanctions on Russian energy exports, it allows ongoing shipments to continue without immediate legal complications. Indian refiners are expected to maintain current procurement levels, helping stabilise domestic fuel supplies while balancing geopolitical pressure from Western sanctions frameworks and volatile global oil markets.