EU chief proposes Russian oil ban over war in Ukraine

STRASBOURG (Reuters) – European Union nations will cease importing Russian oil and refined merchandise, the pinnacle of the bloc’s government European Fee mentioned on Wednesday in proposing a sixth spherical of sanctions towards Moscow for waging a battle on Ukraine.

“We are going to part out Russian provide of crude oil inside six months and refined merchandise by the tip of the yr,” Ursula von der Leyen instructed the European Parliament, prompting applause from lawmakers. “This can be a whole import ban on all Russian oil, seaborne and pipeline, crude and refined.”

“It is not going to be straightforward. Some member states are strongly depending on Russian oil. However we merely must work on it,” von der Leyen mentioned of the proposal, which requires approval from all 27 EU countires to take impact.

(Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska, Benoit Van Overstraeten, Jan Strupczewski, modifying by Sabine Siebold)