The Honorable Janet Yellen
Secretary of the Treasury
U.S. Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20220
The Honorable Antony J. Blinken
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Yellen and Secretary Blinken,
On behalf of Razom We Stand, a Ukraine-based and internationally active peace, clean energy and climate organization, I write to commend your leadership and the Biden administration’s recent sanctions against Gazprombank. These steps mark significant progress in weakening Russia’s war machine. However, we urge you to take further decisive action to address a glaring loophole in the sanctions regime: the continued operations of SLB (formerly Schlumberger) in Russia.
SLB boasts that it helps Russian oil companies drill more for less money. As its competitors withdrew, SLB expanded in Russia, profiteering off Ukrainian suffering and playing a crucial role in Putin’s most strategic industry.
SLB provides proprietary technology and training essential for oil extraction in Russia, which have been described as “crucial” for oil reservoir modeling and geological exploration. This highlights SLB’s significant role in maintaining and improving the efficiency of Russian oil production. SLB is identified as playing a “critical role in facilitating Russian oil production, “with approximately 11,500 employees stationed there. This information underscores SLB’s embedded position in Russia’s oilfield operations and workforce.
The removal of SLB’s exemptions and a full ban on its activities in Russia is not only a necessary policy correction but also an opportunity to reinforce the administration’s legacy of moral leadership and unwavering support for Ukraine. The administration has already demonstrated its commitment to cutting off Russian energy revenues with recent measures, yet SLB remains a critical enabler of Russia’s oil production—a lifeline funding the Kremlin’s genocidal war against Ukraine.
SLB has expanded its footprint in Russia since the February 2022 invasion, signing new contracts, recruiting hundreds of staff, and importing millions in equipment and materials. This activity undermines the spirit of sanctions and strengthens the resiliency of Russia’s energy sector against Western measures. It is unconscionable that a US-based company is allowed by the US government to continue to prioritize profits over principles, facilitating the financing of brutal atrocities in Ukraine.
In May, State Department officials referenced “guard rails” allowing SLB’s operations to continue. These so-called guard rails, however, have permitted the company to patent new technologies, train Russian engineers, and bolster oil production critical to Moscow’s war chest. This reality demands swift action to ensure no U.S. company contributes to sustaining Russia’s aggression.
By revoking SLB’s exemptions and banning its operations in Russia, your administration can:
- Strengthen Sanctions Enforcement: SLB’s presence signals a weak spot in US and allied sanctions. Revoking its license would send a clear message that no actor—corporate or otherwise—will evade accountability.
- Support Ukraine’s Resilience: Cutting off Russian oil revenues directly reduces the funds available for its war machine, aiding America’s ally Ukraine in defending its sovereignty.
- Demonstrate Moral Leadership: The Biden administration has the opportunity to close its term with a bold statement on human rights and justice, aligning action with the President’s declared commitment to Ukraine and global peace.
Russia’s energy sector is its lifeblood, funding both its war against Ukraine and its repression of dissent. As noted by over 50 bipartisan members of Congress in recent correspondence, SLB’s operations provide Vladimir Putin with tools to prolong his aggression. Ending SLB’s role in Russia would be a strategic and symbolic victory for the U.S. and its allies.
Secretary Blinken, we stand ready to support you in this critical effort and urge you to act decisively. The actions you take now will resonate as part of the Biden administration’s enduring legacy of standing with Ukraine and upholding global peace and justice.
Thank you for your leadership in this defining moment.
Sincerely,
Dr. Svitlana Romanko
Founder and Director
Razom We Stand
