Europe will continue buying Russian oil via third countries once it introduces an embargo, RIA news agency cited Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy head of Russian upper house’s international affairs committee, as saying on Wednesday.
The European Union’s chief executive on Wednesday proposed a phased oil embargo on Russia, as well as sanctioning Russia’s top bank and banning Russian broadcasters from European airwaves.
This is the EU’s toughest measures yet to punish Moscow for its war in Ukraine.
The plan, if agreed by EU governments, would be a watershed for the world’s largest trading bloc, which is dependent on Russian energy and must find alternative supplies.
But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by land, sea and air on Feb. 24, the renewed Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine and the horrific images of slaughter in Ukrainian towns have overcome reluctance to deliver sanctions that are painful for the EU as well as for Russia.
Reflecting widespread anger in the West at Russian President Vladimir Putin’s campaign – which Moscow says is a “special military operation” to defeat dangerous nationalists – the head of the EU executive said Moscow must face consequences.
(Reuters)