Oil futures ended sharply higher on Friday, as fresh U.S. sanctions on Russia’s oil sector looked to threaten global supplies and as winter storms in the U.S. were expected to boost demand for heating fuels.

Oil prices rallied nearly 3% to their highest in three months on Friday as traders braced for supply disruptions from the broadest U.S. sanctions package targeting Russian oil and gas revenue.

The White House, now unconcerned about the effect on gas prices and inflation, blacklisted two of Russia’s biggest oil producers and nearly 200 tanker ships.

The United States will impose some of the harshest sanctions yet on Russia's oil industry, according to a purported U.S. Treasury document circulating among traders in Europe and Asia that drove global oil prices 3% higher on Friday.

Oil had a dramatic day as the US imposed its most aggressive sanctions on Russia’s industry and prices surpassed $80 a barrel. Brent futures at one point hit their highest mark since early October. The sweeping penalties are part of an effort by the outgoing Biden administration to boost Ukraine’s leverage in possible peace negotiations after Donald Trump takes office.

Friday closed up +2.65 (+3.58%), and February RBOB gasoline (RBG25) closed up +0.0466 (+2.30%). Crude and gasoline prices Friday settled sharply higher, with crude posting a 3-month high and gasoline posting a 2-3/4 month high.

The United States of America has announced new sanctions that will hit Russia's oil refining industry. Source: European Pravda with reference to a US Treasury Department press release Details: Sanctions have been announced against Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas.

The UK government has announced sanctions against the Russian companies Gazprom Neft and PJSC Surgutneftegas. Source: European Pravda, citing a UK government press release Details: The official statement from London notes that these companies produce over 1 million barrels of oil per day between them,