Rosatom points to legality of restrictions on uranium supplies from Russia to the United States

The restriction on enriched uranium supplies from Russia to the United States is within the legal framework and is a symmetrical response to Washington's steps. This was reported in the state corporation Rosatom on November 18.

"The decree of the government of the Russian Federation on banning uranium supplies from Russia to the United States, adopted in fulfillment of the instruction of the President of the Russian Federation[Vladimir Putin], is an expected symmetrical response to the actions of the U.S. authorities, who passed a law banning imports of Russian uranium in May this year, and is exclusively in the legal field," the company said in a statement quoted by TASS.

Rosatom said that the government document provides for a special procedure for supplying uranium from Russia to US customers. At the same time, this fuel will be delivered to other countries as before, on the basis of national legislation and conditions established in contracts with customers.

The Russian government imposed temporary restrictions on the export of enriched uranium to the United States, the government press service reported on November 15. The decision was made on Putin's instructions in response to Washington's May restriction on uranium imports from Russia until 2027.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Nov. 18 that such a government decision would not harm Russian interests and was "absolutely mirror response measures."

The Daily Wrap portal reported on November 16 that the restriction on Russian uranium supplies to the United States would hit the U.S. energy industry because Russia's share of nuclear fuel supplies to the United States is about 35%.

Putin in September suggested thinking about restricting exports from Russia of strategic raw materials such as uranium, titanium and nickel. In addition, in early September, the head of state emphasized that Russia needs to establish energy and resource sovereignty. The president pointed out that this should be done using more efficient domestic technologies and scientific developments related to ecology and nature management.