The US Treasury Department extended the sanctions waiver on seaborne Russian oil and petroleum products for another month until May 16, 2026. The decision was made to ease the pressure that rising energy prices have created ahead of elections. The waiver is a continuation of a similar measure that expired on April 11. However, the move heightened concerns that it could contribute to Russia financing the war in Ukraine. Members of Congress, particularly Senate Democrats Jeanne Shaheen, Chuck Schumer, and Elizabeth Warren, criticized the extension of the sanctions waiver, calling the decision "shameful." Russian oil revenues nearly doubled in March, fueling concerns that this provides indirect support for the war effort. Meanwhile, French Finance Minister Roland Lescure stressed that Russia should not benefit from Iran-related developments and that Ukraine should not be harmed in this process. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, launched in 2022, remains the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.