Some of the biggest U.S. importers of Russian crude oil have started suspending their purchases of the commodity, including Monroe Energy, which is the third-biggest U.S. buyer of Russian oil. Bloomberg reports that Monroe Energy had stopped importing Russian oil “for the foreseeable future,” while another importer, Par Pacific Holdings, would not enter into new purchase agreements but would receive already contracted volumes. The biggest U.S. importer of Russian crude, Marathon Petroleum, declined to say whether it will continue buying Russian oil, the Bloomberg report said. Other large importers, including Valero Energy, Motiva Enterprises, Phillips 66, and PBF Energy also declined to comment. The United States has so far resisted imposing direct sanctions on Russia’s oil and gas industry, although it did announce it would halt exports of equipment and technology necessary for the operation of oil and gas wells and refineries. Earlier this week, White House press secretary […]