Core Points - International oil prices surged over 5% due to new sanctions on Russia, with Brent crude nearing $66 per barrel and WTI crude exceeding $61.7 per barrel [1][2] Group 1: Sanctions Overview - The European Union has officially implemented its 19th round of sanctions against Russia, focusing on energy and financial sectors, including a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas by 2027 and a price cap on Russian oil set at $47.6 per barrel [3] - The U.S. Treasury announced sanctions against two major Russian oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, due to Russia's lack of commitment to ending the Ukraine conflict [4] - With these sanctions, the U.S. has now targeted all four of Russia's largest oil companies, complicating Russia's oil exports and potentially reducing purchases from Asian buyers [5] Group 2: Market Reactions - U.S. energy stocks saw a pre-market rise, with companies like Schlumberger, ConocoPhillips, and Halliburton increasing over 2%, while ExxonMobil rose nearly 1.8% [3] - The sanctions are expected to have a significant impact on the Russian economy, as they include asset freezes and trading bans on major oil and gas companies [4] - The geopolitical tensions and supply concerns are likely to lead to increased volatility in oil prices in the short term [5]