Boeing and Rolls-Royce hired lobbyists to prevent sanctions against Russia. Both companies depend on the supply of titanium from the Russian Federation

Boeing and Rolls-Royce hired lobbyists in the US Congress in order to influence the process of imposing sanctions against Russia. Information about this “New Gazeta Europe” found in the reports on lobbying activities that are published on the website of the House of Representatives of the United States.

In total, Boeing spent $ 2.6 million, Rolls-Royce-$ 250 thousand, but only part of these amounts went to lobbying on issues related to Russia, on the first quarter of 2025.

The production of both companies is highly dependent on the supply of titanium. Boeing uses titanium in aircraft designs to reduce weight and increase fuel efficiency, and Rolls-Royce in the production of reactive aviation engines, where parts are subjected to extreme loads and temperatures.

Prior to the start of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Boeing received about a third of the titanium from the Russian Federation, Rolls-Royce-about 20%.

Now the supply of Russian titanium to the United States is not prohibited, but in October 2024, Washington, according to Bloomberg sources, invited the countries of the Big Seven to impose sanctions against metal export.

In addition, in September 2023, the US Department of Trade included VSMPO-Avism in the list of organizations falling under export restrictions. This means that American companies should receive special licenses for trading with VSMPO-Avisma. This significantly limits its access to US technology and equipment.

After the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Boeing refused to purchase titanium from VSMPO-Avism, but, according to The Washington Post, began to receive it through its suppliers. Rolls-Royce announced the termination of the purchases of Russian titanium, but in fact, as notes The Washington Post, continued them.

In total, the main player, the main player-the VSMPPO Avisma corporation-provides up to 30% of the world production of titanium and previously covered a significant part of the needs of the largest aircraft builders, such as Boeing and Airbus, until 2022.

In February 2025, against the backdrop of rumors about the possible return of Boeing to Russia, the Protes Avisma grew by 30%, Kommersant said .

25% of the shares of VSMPO Avism is owned by the structure of the state corporation Rostec.

The predecessor of Rostec, Rosoboronexport, became the main shareholder of the VSMPO-Avisma in 2006 amid the conflict between the previous shareholders of the company: the Renova group and businessmen Vladislav Tetyukhin and Vyacheslav Brest.

In 2007, control over the company passed to the Rostec state corporation. In 2012, its management sold 45.42% of the VSMPO-Avism shares to a group of top managers of the company, including Mikhail Silkov, who is now the main owner of the company and takes 45th place in the Russian Forbes rating.

In addition, several companies engaged in nuclear energy were hired in the Congress: Uranium Energy Corporation , Terrapower , Cameco Corporartion , Global Laser Enrichment , Centrus Energy , Urenco , Uranium Producers Of America , Encore Energy , Nuclear Energy Institute .

These companies require softening the ban on imports in the United States of Russian Uranus introduced in November 2024. In response to these restrictions, Russia itself banned Uranus exports to the United States.

Prior to the introduction of restrictions, Russia was the main foreign supplier of Uranus for the American nuclear power plant, providing about 20% of the US needs for enriched uranium.