Brussels mulls Russian oil embargo in new sanctions round
The European Union is mulling imposing an embargo on Russian oil and coal — but not gas — as part of its next round of sanctions but the impact on Moscow may be limited.
EU foreign ministers are gathering in Brussels on Monday to discuss new sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine with many calling for a ban on Russian oil and coal imports.
"It is unavoidable to start talking about the energy sector and we definitely can start talking about oil," Lithuania Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told reporters heading into the meeting.
"Europe cannot look, give an impression of fatigue when the war in Ukraine hasn't ended. We cannot get tired imposing sanctions, we cannot get tired offering assistance to Ukraine," he added.
His Irish counterpart, Simon Coveney, said Dublin is "very open" to sanctions on Russian oil and coal.
"We think that is appropriate," he said, given "the extent of the destruction in Ukraine."
The EU has so far imposed four rounds of sanctions against Russia since it launched its military attack against Ukraine on 24 February. These have targeted banks, hundreds of individuals including Russian President Vladimir Putin, his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and oligarchs, and the steel sector. The bloc has also banned exports to Russia of any good that can be used by its military as well as luxury products.
The aim of these sanctions, the bloc and its allies have said, is to cripple the Russian economy and curtail its ability to raise funds for its military.
But energy supplies have so far been left off the table as the EU is heavily reliant on Russia for its energy supplies.
More than a third of the EU's energy is generated by petroleum products with another fifth generated by natural gas. Solid
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