The monthly import profile for April, which following European wholesale front-month trade in March, saw sourcing from all parts of the world intensify, with Europe comfortably receiving its highest-ever volume for a single month. This was, however, paid for at a high price.

Moscow has imposed sanctions on the owner of the Polish part of the Yamal pipeline that carries Russian gas to Europe, as well as Gazprom's former German unit, whose subsidiaries help meet Europe's gas consumption.

"Due to the fact that the Nord Stream 2 offshore gas pipeline is currently not in use, and taking into account the implementation of gas supply for consumers in northwest Russia, Gazprom has decided to use the excess onshore gas transmission capacity of Nord Stream 2 for the development of gas supply to the regions of northwest Russia," Gazprom said in a statement.

ExxonMobil holds a 30% stake in Sakhalin 1. Other partners include Rosneft with 20%, Japan's Sodeco with 30% and India's ONGC Videsh with 20%.

"To pay in rubles -- if this is not foreseen in the contract -- is a breach of our sanctions. We have about 97% of all contracts that explicitly stipulate payments in euros or dollars," she said.

Technip’s involvement in Arctic LNG 2 is likely to be sharply cut beyond June.

Combined, Russia's seaborne crude and key oil products exports stood at 6.79 million b/d so far in April, down 640,000 b/d from 7.43 million b/d in February,

Budapest does not support sanctions against Russian oil and gas and will not allow transit of weapons to Ukraine through its territory.

Putin's decree imposed an obligation on EU gas buyers to open at least two special accounts - one for euros or dollars and one for roubles - with Gazprombank and channel all gas payments through the bank.

Russia's invasion has driven up the price of the oil, gas and grain it exports, providing it with a substantial windfall to fund its "special military operation" - now entering a new phase as Moscow focuses on the eastern Donbas region after failing to break Ukraine's defence of the capital Kyiv.

Japan typically takes high-CV, low-ash coal from Russia

Novak is Russia's key negotiator in the OPEC+ group, which has resisted calls from consumers to increase production.

The new round includes an import ban on coal from Russia worth Eur4 billion/year ($4.38 billion/year) and a ban on Russian vessels and Russian-operated vessels from accessing EU ports, allowing for certain exemptions such as agricultural and food products, humanitarian aid as well as energy.

While the US has already banned imports of Russian oil, gas and coal, it could escalate energy pressure through secondary sanctions on other countries that continue to import the supplies.

The first 90 million barrels will be released between May and July, through two notices of sale totaling 70 million barrels, and 20 million barrels already scheduled to be released in May 2022.