The sanctions proposed by the European Commission arouse the reluctance of the countries most dependent on Moscow.
Correspondent in Brussels
“Let’s be clear: it won’t be easy. Some Member States are heavily dependent on Russian oil.” It is with these cautious words that Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the Commission, presented to MEPs on Wednesday the outlines of the sixth package of sanctions against Russia, including an embargo on Russian oil on which the EU depends at 26 %.
It was a wish of the European Parliament which, in a resolution voted at the beginning of April, had called for sanctioning all Russian energies, from gas to nuclear fuels. According to the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air, the EU has paid 52 billion euros for its oil, gas and coal purchases since the start of the war in Ukraine, including 21 billion for black gold alone.
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This manna allows Russia to finance its war against Ukraine. Like coal – the import of which will be prohibited from August 1, the embargo on oil – transported by sea or by pipeline – will not be effective…
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