The U.S. is ramping up efforts to choke off Russia’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports in a bid to further squeeze Moscow’s energy revenues, a senior official revealed on October 22. Jeffrey Pyatt, Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, emphasized that the Biden administration will continue to “tighten the screws” on Russian LNG, following sanctions on Arctic LNG 2 last year.
While key Russian LNG projects like Yamal and Portovaya remain unsanctioned, Pyatt warned that Washington is keeping a close watch on Russian energy exports. Targeting LNG could lead to global supply cuts and soaring prices, but Pyatt stressed the importance of cutting Russia’s energy income. The crackdown comes as reports suggest Moscow is expanding its “ghost fleet” of tankers to evade sanctions.
As the U.S. continues its pressure campaign, the question remains: How much longer can Russia keep its energy lifeline afloat?
