EU announces plan to phase out all Russian oil imports


The European Union announced on Wednesday a plan to ban Russian oil imports from Europe, The New York Times reports.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, that although phasing out Russian oil "will not be easy," member states will "simply have to work on it."
She emphasized that the proposal would implement "a complete import ban on all Russian oil — seaborne and pipeline, crude and refined." Crude oil, von der Leyen said, would be phased out completely within six months, "and refined products by the end of the year."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
E.U. diplomats familiar with the sanctions told the Times that "Hungary and Slovakia, two members with outsize dependence on Russian oil imports, would be given until December 2023" to ban Russian oil.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a nationalist conservative, has so far refused to cut his country off from Russian fuel, claiming he is "standing on the basis of the Hungarian national interests."
The U.S. banned Russian oil imports in March.
Per the Times, the E.U. proposal also imposes sanctions on Patriarch Kirill — the pro-Putin leader of the Russian Orthodox Church — and prohibits "E.U. companies from providing Russian clients with services like public relations consulting and accounting."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Modern Age, The American Conservative, The Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.
-
Cocktail of the summer: the Hugo spritz
The Week Recommends The refreshing elderflower-based tipple is giving Aperol a run for its money
-
How the Erin Patterson mushroom trial caught the world's attention
In the Spotlight Australian woman who laced beef wellington with deadly mushrooms found guilty of murder
-
The failed bombings of 21/7
The Explainer The unsuccessful attacks 'unnerved' London and led to a tragic mistake
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami