April 11 deadline looms for U.S. to renew Russian oil sanctions waiver, but experts warn renewal fuels Putin's war machine. The Treasury Department's temporary license, expiring April 11, allowed Russian oil sales normally blocked by sanctions if loaded by March 12. While strong U.S. energy production meant minimal impact on global supply or American consumers, freeing sanctioned Russian barrels provided crucial revenue for Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Critics argue renewing the waiver would be a strategic error, directly financing further aggression. The license's expiration highlights the complex trade-offs between energy security and geopolitical pressure. Experts caution that any renewal would likely be seen as a concession to Putin, undermining long-term sanctions strategy without stabilizing oil markets.