The EU has announced plans to ban Russian oil imports

The countries of the European Union should prohibition Russia’s oil imports in the next six months, and all products derived from refined oil by the end of the year, the president of the European Commission said, Ursula von der Leyenin the European Parliament on Wednesday morning when the bloc released a package of measures against Russia.

The oil ban and other measures will be shown in detail to European Union ambassadors on Wednesday and are expected to be adopted by the end of the week.

“Let’s be clear, it’s not going to be easy,” von der Leyen told MEPs at the parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg, France.

“Some Member States highly dependent of Russian oil. But we just have to work at it. “

His announcement was met with applause by members of Parliament, reflecting the widespread consensus that the proposal, although difficult to do and possibly financially painful for Europeans, had long been expected if necessary to begin with. deprived to the chief Vladimir V. Putin of the cash needed to finance the war.

Diplomats said they saw penalty documents Hungary and Slovakia, two members who are highly dependent on Russia’s oil imports will have until December 2023 to ban the fuel.

Diplomats also said the proposal would include sanctions against the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, at a high step. symbolic who will go to him for supporting Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Ms. said. von der Leyen that the 27-country bloc would also impose sanctions on Sberbankthe largest bank in Russia.

The proposal includes banning more Russian broadcasters from European airwaves and stopping EU companies from providing Russian clients with services such as public relations consulting and accounting.

“We are depriving the Russian economy of the ability to diversify and modernize,” von der Leyen said.

“Putin wants to remove Ukraine from the map. Obviously it will not succeed.”

Matina Stevis-Gridneff is the Brussels bureau chief for The New York Times, which covers the European Union. He joined The Times after covering East Africa and previously in Europe for The Wall Street Journal. @MatinaStevis