Measures that were taken in response to the introduction of a ceiling on Russian oil prices were worked out internally, there were no direct contacts with OPEC+. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked by TASS on Wednesday.
"Mainly, of course, internal Russian [consultations preceded the signing of Russian President Vladimir Putin's decree on the response to the introduction of the oil price ceiling]," the Kremlin spokesman said. He explained that the point is that "it is the sovereign right of Russia to respond to such illegitimate, absolutely absurd measures, the so-called price ceiling." "That is why [the signing of the decree] was preceded by an internal Russian expert study," Peskov stressed.
He responded negatively to the question whether Moscow had direct contacts with OPEC+ before signing the decree. "Although the Russian side is of course in constant contact with OPEC+ countries on this topic and on other topics related to energy markets through the supervising Deputy Prime Minister [Alexander] Novak," the Kremlin spokesman clarified.
Peskov noted that contacts between Russia and OPEC+ are "constantly taking place." "This is an ongoing work under OPEC+, it is a separate permanent line of work," he added.
An embargo on Russian oil deliveries by sea to the European Union came into force on December 5. The EU countries have also agreed on a regulated price ceiling of $60 a barrel for Russian oil delivered by sea. The G7 countries and Australia announced a similar decision. Western countries have banned their companies from providing transportation, financial and insurance services to tankers carrying oil from Russia at a price above the agreed level.
On December 27, Putin signed a decree on countermeasures to the West's imposition of a price ceiling on Russian oil, banning supplies from February to buyers who adhered to this restriction. The document comes into force on February 1, 2023, and is valid until July 1, 2023.
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Based on materials from TASS