A private company amongst state-controlled giants, Lukoil faces the dual challenges of negotiating with the Kremlin while branding itself as a multinational player. The oil producer, which had sales of $67.2 billion last year, has broken new ground for Russian energy companies by opening gas stations in the United States and Europe. Another sign that Lukoil isn't run by the state: Its leadership has publicly complained about the Russian government's 65% tariff on oil priced over $25 a barrel, a windfall worth as much as $95 billion each year.
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