The European Union is poised to ban Russian oil imports as part of a new wave of possible sanctions, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday.
von der Leyen told the European Parliament that the EU would phase out Russian crude oil imports over the next six months.
Von der Leyen, who heads the EU's executive branch, said that ending the bloc's dependency on Russian oil will be difficult.
The package included proposals to bar three state-owned Russian broadcasters from the region and to remove the country's largest bank from the international financial system.
von der Leyen said that the proposals include measures against military officers who have committed war crimes.
She said that they know who you are and that you will be held accountable.
Von der Leyen said that they want to win the war and join the EU. In addition to short-term support to help cope with the aftermath of the war, von der Leyen proposed the bloc start working on an ambitious recovery package.
Von der Leyen said that the Russian economy was being deprived of its ability to diversify. He won't succeed. Ukraine has risen up in unity. He is sinking in his own country, Russia.
What will the final sanctions look like? The Commission's proposals will be debated by the EU's 27 member states, who will have a hard time getting rid of Russian oil. The main supplier of revenue for Moscow is the exports. According to multiple news reports, it is possible that some EU members will be granted a concession under the new plans. Almost all of Slovakia's oil imports last year were from Russia, and more than half of Hungary's. The Czech Republic and Bulgaria may want to opt-out.
The EU is divided over how to leave Russian energy.