A change to a nuclear-related license fueled the claim that the Trump administration lifted U.S. sanctions on Russia.

Oil prices rose on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would make an announcement regarding Russia, raising the prospect of more sanctions on the major oil producer, while tariff concern and rising OPEC+ output capped gains.

Momentum has been building behind a bipartisan bill to impose sanctions on countries that purchase Russian oil, as Republicans work behind the scenes to win President Trump’s support.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday held a “substantive conversation” with US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, focusing on arms supply, joint defense production, and sanctions against Russia.

PRAGUE (Reuters) -Slovakia aims to reach an agreement with the European Commission and EU partners by Tuesday on guarantees it will not suffer from the end of Russian gas supplies and on a new sanctions package against Russia,

Russia is using gold and crypto to bypass Western sanctions, a top regulator said on Tuesday. "Netting" is another offbeat way Russia is using to beat sweeping sanctions. Russia's economy faces challenges, with a potential recession and slowing GDP growth.

The European Union faces challenges in adopting its 18th sanctions package against Russia due to disagreements over the oil price cap and a Slovak veto tied to energy import phase-out proposals.

President Donald Trump’s desire to have unchecked authority over the next wave of Russia sanctions could throw a wrench in the Senate’s hopes of passing a bipartisan sanctions bill before August recess.