Exxon, BP Defy White House; Extend Partnership with Russia
Moves to deepen business in Russia suggest that the world's biggest oil companies are confident that the U.S. and Europe won't be so bold as to truly attack Russia's energy machine
Several of the largest oil companies in the world are doubling down in Russia despite moves by the West to isolate Russia and its economy. ExxonMobil and BP separately signed agreements with Rosneft --Russia's state-owned oil company --to extend and deepen their relationships for energy exploration. The U.S. slapped sanctions on Rosneft's CEO Igor Sechin in late April, freezing his assets and preventing him from obtaining visas.