MOSCOW – Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak has instructed the Ministry of Energy to draft a government decree to ban gasoline exports starting April 1, 2026, the government said on Friday.

The ban would remain in place until July 31, TASS news agency reported.

Following a meeting on the domestic fuel market chaired by Novak, the government said in a statement that the measure aims to stabilize prices and ensure priority supply to the domestic market.

During the meeting, officials stressed the task set by Russian President Vladimir Putin to prevent domestic fuel price increases from exceeding projected levels.

"The Deputy Prime Minister noted that turbulence in the global oil and petroleum product market caused by the crisis in the Middle East is leading to significant price fluctuations," the statement read.

Novak added that strong demand for Russian energy resources in foreign markets remains a positive factor.