In the most significant effort yet to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine, the European Union agreed to ban the overwhelming majority of Russian oil imports after tense negotiations that exposed the cracks in the bloc's united front.
From the moment Russia invaded on Feb. 24, the West has sought to hit Moscow's lucrative energy sector to cut off funding for its war. But any such move is a double-edged sword, especially in Europe, which relies on the country for 25% of its oil and 40% of its natural gas. European countries that are even more heavily dependent on Russia have been especially reluctant to act.
In response to the EU's decision, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, said on Twitter:"Russia will find other importers." Talks at EU headquarters in Brussels were set Tuesday to focus on ways to end the trading bloc's dependence on Russian energy, by diversifying supplies and speeding up the transition to renewable sources and away, as much as possible given recent price hikes, from fossil fuels.
- A court in Ukraine convicted two Russian soldiers on Tuesday of war crimes for the shelling of civilian buildings. It sentenced both to 11 1/2 years in prison, concluding the country's second war crime trial held since the Russian invasion. The EU estimated that would mean around 90% of Russian oil is banned by the end of the year. That figure includes a ban on all Russian oil delivered by sea - which accounts for two-thirds of the EU's imports - plus a decision by Germany and Poland to stop using oil from the northern branch of the Druzhba pipeline.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russia-Ukraine war live updates: E.U. bans most Russian oil; Moscow at ‘maximum’ strength in DonbasThe European Union's compromise deal would cut 90 percent of imports of Russian oil by the end of the year.
Read more »
Map timelapse shows where Russia has lost ground in UkraineThe United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence has put out daily maps and intelligence briefings on the Russian invasion of Ukraine since it began in late February.
Read more »
Ukraine, Russia battle in the east as Zelenskyy visits front'I feel boundless pride in our defenders. Every day, risking their lives, they fight for Ukraine’s freedom.' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a frontline visit to Kharkiv, where Ukrainian forces have pushed Russian troops from nearby positions.
Read more »
EU to pledge support for Ukraine but not discuss new Russia sanctions – ReutersAhead of the summit between European Union (EU) leaders on Monday to discuss the Russia-Ukraine crisis, draft conclusions of the meeting, seen by Reut
Read more »
Ukraine, Russia Battle in the East as Zelenskyy Visits FrontRussian and Ukrainian troops are trading blows in fierce close-quarter combat in an eastern Ukraine city. Local officials reported Russian forces “storming” the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk on Sunday, a situation that the Ukrainian president described as “indescribably difficult.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says 90% of the buildings in Sievierodonetsk have been damaged. The city has emerged as an epicenter of Russia’s quest to conquer Ukraine’s industrial Donbas region. Russia also stepped up efforts to take nearby Lysychansk, where constant shelling was reported. Zelenskyy himself made a rare frontline visit to soldiers in Kharkiv. He declared “I feel boundless pride in our defenders. Every day, risking their lives, they fight for Ukraine’s freedom.”
Read more »
Ukraine, Russia battle in the east as Zelenskyy visits frontSievierodonetsk emerged in recent days as the epicenter of Moscow’s quest to capture all of Ukraine’s industrial Donbas region.
Read more »