Poland to ban Russian oil imports, as Germans urged to save energy
Poland says it is putting in place Europe's most radical plan to cut dependence on Russian energy sources.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced steps on Wednesday to end all Russian oil imports by the end of 2022.
Poland said Tuesday it was banning imports of Russian coal. Morawiecki said he expects coal imports will be ended in May.
Warsaw has also been taking strides to cut reliance on Russian gas. A liquid gas terminal was built in Swinoujscie and is being expanded now, receiving deliveries from Qatar, the US, Norway and other exporters. A new, Baltic pipeline bringing gas from Norway is to open at the end of this year.
Morawiecki says Poland will take steps to become “independent” of Russian supplies and is calling on other European Union countries to “walk away” from Russian fossil fuels. Poland argues that money from oil and gas exports are fueling Russia’s war machine and that that should stop.
Meanwhile, in Germany, the government issued an early warning over natural gas supplies and called on consumers to save energy amid concerns that Russia could cut off deliveries unless it is paid in roubles.
Western nations have rejected the Russian demand for rouble payments, arguing it would undermine the sanctions imposed against Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
Economy Minister Robert Habeck said the move was a precautionary measure as, so far, Russia is still fulfilling its contracts. But he appealed to companies and households in Germany to start reducing their gas consumption.
“There have been several comments from the Russian side that if this (payments in roubles) doesn't happen, then the supplies will be stopped,” he told reporters in Berlin, adding that Moscow is expected to unveil new rules for gas payments on
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