بعد العقوبات الجديدة.. تهديد روسي بحرمان الولايات المتحدة من اليورانيوم

In a sharp response to the escalating tensions between Moscow and Washington, Alexey Likhachev, the general director of the Russian state atomic energy corporation "Rosatom," warned that any further strain in relations with the United States will lead "sooner or later" to negative repercussions on the supply of enriched uranium to it, despite the new sanctions not directly targeting the nuclear energy sector.

This warning came in Likhachev's statements in response to a question about the potential impact of American sanctions on nuclear exports, noting that "politicians in Washington are risking American energy security itself."

These statements follow the announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump of new sanctions targeting the Russian oil giants "Rosneft" and "Lukoil" and their subsidiaries, in addition to canceling his anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, while confirming his intention to meet with him later.

According to reports from the U.S. Treasury Department, the sanctions froze the assets of the two companies in the United States and prohibited American companies and individuals from dealing with them, aiming to increase pressure on the Kremlin to engage in a genuine peace process in Ukraine.

This led to a rise in oil prices by up to 3.5% in global markets, amid fears of secondary effects on banks and suppliers in countries such as China, India, and Turkey.

As for Likhachev, he confirmed that "Rosatom" will continue its current supplies, but warned that "political escalation will make continuity difficult, threatening 20% of U.S. nuclear energy needs."

The nuclear tensions between the United States and Russia began with the U.S. ban on imports of Russian uranium in May 2024, as part of efforts to reduce dependence on Moscow, but with exceptions extending to 2028 to avoid disruptions in the energy sector.

Russia responded in November 2024 with a temporary ban on exports until the end of 2025, with the possibility of individual licensing, leading to a significant decline in U.S. imports in the first quarter of 2025. However, supplies continued under special licenses, as Russian uranium accounts for about 25% of U.S. needs, and "Rosatom" controls 36% of the global enrichment market, making alternatives costly and long-term.

"Rosatom," established in 2007, is a nuclear giant building plants in countries such as Turkey, Hungary, China, and Egypt, generating annual revenues of up to $18 billion, relying on exports to "unfriendly countries" for 20% of its business.