There is also a larger nuclear-powered icebreaker under construction, the Rossiya, which will be the first of the proposed Project 10510 nuclear-powered icebreakers. It will feature two RITM-400 reactors for a propeller power of 120 MW. It will be able to penetrate ice up to 4.3 metres thick and clear a channel up to 50 metres wide. Its most recent reported construction target service date is 2030.

These primarily impact China and India, who are the largest buyers of Russian oil. Both have begun turning away Russian tankers over the past few days in anticipation of the move.

Gazprom began supplying gas to Slovakia again at the beginning of February, using volumes given up by Hungary on the TurkStream pipeline, SPP said last month. Volumes were due to double from April, but no amounts were given.

Brent gained 7 cents, or 0.1%, at $73.86 a barrel, WTI ose 10 cents, or 0.1%, to $69.75 a barrel.

Hungary has gone the other way, leveraging its ties to Moscow for economic gain. It carved out exemptions from under EU sanctions on Russian oil and doubled down on natural gas purchases from Russia. Hungary is also pressing on with the Russia-led expansion of its sole nuclear power plant.

Lower LNG demand from China is also providing near-term relief for European buyers competing for shipments. The Asian country’s purchases are forecast to fall this year for the first time since 2022,

Brent fell 19 cents, or 0.3%, to $70.37 a barrel, WTI was down 20 cents, or 0.3%, to $66.70.

There have also been reports that Nord Stream 2 could be taken under new ownership with a view to allowing Russian gas to flow via the undamaged string of the link.

The final product will be returned by December 2027 in the form of UF6 enriched to 4.25% and will be used in the manufacture of nuclear fuel for the Angra dos Reis NPP.

Brent fell 5 cents to $70.9 a barrel, WTI shed 10 cents to $67.58 a barrel.