Relations between Russia and Western nations have been in the deep freeze since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but Norway has been keen to keep some limited cooperation alive through the Arctic Council.

The OECD's growth forecast for Russia has been significantly revised upward—from 1.8% to 2.6% for this year, placing it sixth globally.

Brent inched 4 cents higher to $83.40 a barrel, WTI rose 5 cents to $79.17 a barrel.

Total Russian seaborne crude exports reached 3.9 million-4 million b/d in March and April, boosted by multi-month high shipments to India, and around the highest since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia has started developing a nuclear power plant for its planned joint lunar station with China, the RIA news agency cited Yuri Borisov, the head of Russia's space agency Roscosmos, as saying on Wednesday.

Brent fell 30 cents, or 0.36%, to $82.86 a barrel, WTI fell 25 cents, or 0.32%, to $78.13 a barrel.

Proceeds for the Russian budget from oil-related taxes jumped to 1.053 trillion rubles ($11.5 billion) last month compared to nearly 497 billion rubles in April 2023, according to Bloomberg calculations based on Finance Ministry data. Total oil and gas revenues in April increased nearly 90% year-on-year, to 1.23 trillion rubles, according to the data.

The lawmakers said exempting EDF from U.S. sanctions would allow it to purchase a subsidiary of a U.S. company that had been engaged in nuclear power projects with Rosatom in Hungary, Turkey and Egypt, projects that have been suspended for years due to sanctions.

The US Senate April 30 approved legislation aimed at banning imports of Russian low-enriched uranium that is produced in Russia or by a Russian entity.

Brent were up 23 cents, or 0.28%, at $83.56 per barrel , WTI rose 24 cents, or 0.31%, to $78.72 a barrel.