China Receives Third Sanctioned Russian Arctic LNG Cargo

China continues to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia's Arctic LNG 2 project despite Western sanctions aimed at curbing Moscow's energy exports. The U.S.-sanctioned tanker Zarya recently delivered over 160,000 cubic meters of LNG to China's Beihai LNG Terminal, marking the third such shipment in a few weeks, with additional cargoes en route. Russia has developed a 'phantom fleet' of vessels operating under flags of convenience to bypass sanctions and maintain energy supplies to Asia, complicating enforcement efforts by the U.S. and its allies. The Arctic LNG 2 project, majority-owned by Novatek, was intended to be Russia's flagship LNG export facility but has faced challenges due to sanctions. Despite this, ongoing deliveries to China highlight the resilience of Russian energy exports and the continued cooperation between Russia and China amid geopolitical tensions. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright noted President Donald Trump's priority to end the Russia-Ukraine war without causing broader disruptions when questioned about U.S. responses to these shipments.