US Source Denies Extension of Russia Oil Sanctions Waiver; Ukraine Expresses Uncertainty

A US source, speaking to the Kyiv Independent, explicitly denied that the United States had made a decision to extend the Russia oil sanctions waiver. The statement was made on May 18, 2026, in Kyiv, Ukraine. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that Ukraine expressed uncertainty about the US stance on the Russia oil sanctions, indicating a lack of clear communication from Washington. The Kyiv Independent's report directly contradicts Bloomberg's account, with the former citing a denial from a US source and the latter highlighting Ukraine's confusion. There is no indication of a decision to extend the waiver, but Ukraine remains unclear on the US position. This divergence underscores the complexity of US-Ukraine relations and the opaque nature of US foreign policy decisions regarding Russia.