The Russian government’s press service reported that Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak chaired a high‑level briefing on the oil market, inviting senior figures from the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Finance, and the Federal Antimonopoly Service, along with representatives from the oil sector and Igor Artemyev, who is aligned with the Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The briefing underscored that the discussion spanned current supply dynamics, pricing trends, and the broader policy toolkit available to maintain stability in energy markets. This gathering, noted by TASS, reflects continued state attention to how fluctuations in global oil flows and currency movements ripple through domestic prices, producer margins, and the reliability of fuel supplies during peak seasons and beyond. The presence of multiple ministries and industry players signals a concerted effort to harmonize regulatory oversight with market signals, aiming to safeguard both domestic energy security and consumer access to gasoline and diesel across regions while balancing export and domestic consumption pressures in a volatile global environment .
Following the meeting, Novak directed fuel producers to ensure uniform and predictable sales of gasoline and diesel within the foreign exchange market, a move designed to reduce price volatility and support steady market functioning as international demand shifts. The directive comes at a time when wholesale and retail pricing are sensitive to seasonal demand spikes, refinery maintenance work, and adjustments in import and export flows. Officials stressed that price supervision at gas stations and within wholesale channels should remain vigilant, taking into account the anticipated summer surge in demand and the annual refinery repair season. The objective, as described by Novak, is to keep fuel availability stable while allowing market-based pricing to reflect cost inputs, currency dynamics, and regional distribution constraints rather than abrupt price swings that could erode consumer confidence in the supply chain .
During the discussion, oil companies were urged to maintain active collaboration with the operations headquarters established under the Ministry of Energy to monitor production and consumption of petroleum products. This coordination is intended to provide real-time visibility into stock levels, refinery output, and consumption patterns across the country, enabling authorities to respond quickly to any mismatch between supply and demand. In addition, there was reference to potential policy tools that could be employed if there were developing pressures on exports, with voices in attendance noting that such measures would need to be calibrated to protect the domestic market while preserving the country’s energy export capabilities. The context here is not only about short‑term price stabilization but also about long‑term reliability of fuel supplies for both transportation networks and industrial users in Canada and the United States, where cross‑border energy trade remains a core economic link .