The United States has proposed a six-month deadline for Germany to resolve the ownership status of Rosneft Deutschland, the local subsidiary of Russian oil giant Rosneft PJSC, which remains under trusteeship following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

According to people familiar with the matter, Washington is considering issuing a temporary, non-renewable general license that would allow Rosneft Deutschland to continue operations without facing US sanctions. The move is meant to give Berlin time to establish a new ownership structure that excludes Russian control before the trusteeship ends in March next year.

German officials are reviewing the proposal and are expected to respond soon. Economy Minister Katherina Reiche is also expected to discuss the issue during the G7 Energy and Environment Ministers’ meeting in Toronto this week.

Rosneft Deutschland holds shares in three major German refineries, including the PCK Raffinerie GmbH plant in Schwedt near Berlin, which accounts for around 12% of Germany’s refining capacity. The company also has a stake in the Transalpine crude pipeline.

The US proposal comes as Berlin tries to avoid any disruption to its energy sector caused by new sanctions, while also facing pressure to cut all Russian ownership ties. Without the temporary license, Rosneft’s German operations could be cut off from customers after November 21, when the latest US sanctions take effect.

Germany’s government seized Rosneft’s local assets after the Ukraine invasion but has struggled to find a buyer. Talks with Qatar previously collapsed due to disagreements over pricing. Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently said he was optimistic about finding a solution with Washington to prevent refinery operations from being affected.

For now, Berlin continues to manage Rosneft Deutschland under trusteeship while balancing diplomatic, legal, and energy supply challenges.

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