Oil company Exxon Mobil is petitioning the U.S. Government for special permission to continue its work in Russia, the Wall Street Journal has reported.
The firm was forced to stop work on a joint project with Russia's Rosneft in 2014 due to economic sanctions imposed after the annexation of Crimea.
Exxon has reportedly asked the U.S. Treasury department to allow it to drill in the Black Sea since July 2015.
The company then launched a new push for approval in March, just weeks after its former chief executive, Rex Tillerson, became secretary of state, an unnamed source told The Wall Street Journal.
The waiver application and Exxon's connections with the Trump administration are likely to come under close scrutiny by U.S. politicians, some of whom have accused the president of having inappropriate contact with Kremlin officials during his election campaign.
Tillerson, who has previously been awarded the Russian Order of Friendship, visited Moscow in an official visit last week.
The secretary of state reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to sanctions, and even said that new measures could be imposed in response for alleged Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election: “The issue of the election interference is a serious issue, one that could attract additional sanctions,” Tillerson said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
