Key facts
- Novatek secretly funded a U.S. gas project in potential violation of sanctions, the NYT reported.
- The project, Polar LNG, aims to liquefy and export natural gas from Alaska.
- Former Polar LNG CEO John Riddle resigned after discovering the Russian funding.
- Novatek confirmed it sought minority shareholder status in the Polar LNG project.
Russian energy giant Novatek has been secretly funding a multibillion-dollar U.S. liquefied natural gas project in Alaska, potentially violating sanctions imposed after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the New York Times reported Oct. 23. The company, Russia's second-largest LNG producer, provided funds to Polar LNG, an American firm seeking to export Alaskan natural gas. John Riddle, former CEO of Polar LNG, resigned in September after learning of the hidden ties, which he stated were unlawful and not in the U.S. interest. Riddle informed Trump administration officials about the financing. Novatek confirmed to the NYT that it was seeking minority shareholder status in the project, which was discussed with President Vladimir Putin by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.