German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expects that an exception will be made for Rosneft from the new U.S. sanctions. This concerns the German business of the Russian company, which is under the management of the German state.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz believes that an "exception" will be made for Rosneft from the new U.S. sanctions. "We will discuss this with the Americans," Merz was quoted by Reuters on the night of Friday, October 24.
Earlier that same day, Reuters reported that German authorities are seeking to protect the German subsidiaries of Rosneft from the new U.S. sanctions. According to this information, several banks have already indicated that the U.S. sanctions could hinder them from doing business with the subsidiaries of the Russian oil company in Germany. The German Ministry of Economics and Energy told Reuters that the U.S. sanctions should not affect Rosneft's German business, as it is under state management.
DW reached out to the ministry with its own inquiry about whether they see a threat from U.S. sanctions for Rosneft's German subsidiaries.
Rosneft's subsidiaries in Germany are managed by the state
This concerns two German companies: Rosneft Deutschland and RN Refining & Marketing. After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the German authorities stripped Rosneft of control over them and placed them under external trust management by the Federal Network Agency. Ownership rights remained with Rosneft. In September 2025, the trust management of Rosneft Deutschland was extended for another year.
Rosneft Deutschland accounts for about 12% of oil refining capacity in Germany. The company has stakes in three major German refineries: PCK Schwedt in the city of Schwedt, MiRo in Karlsruhe, and Bayernoil in Vohburg on the Danube.
Rosneft's German companies are not on the U.S. sanctions list
On October 22, the U.S. imposed sanctions against Rosneft, Lukoil, and their group of companies. A total of 28 different subsidiaries of Rosneft and six of Lukoil are on the list. However, neither Rosneft Deutschland nor RN Refining & Marketing are listed by the U.S. Treasury.
On October 22, just hours before the announcement of U.S. sanctions, the United Kingdom removed Rosneft Deutschland and RN Refining & Marketing from sanctions. As a result, companies such as the British-Dutch Shell can now collaborate with them.
