EU Bans Most Russian Oil Imports
2022-06-01
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1The European Union (EU) has agreed to ban the majority of Russian oil imports.
2The agreement marks the biggest move yet to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine.
3Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Western nations have sought to punish Russia economically for its aggression.
4But targeting the energy sector has proven difficult.
5The EU depends on Russia for 25 percent of its oil and 40 percent of its natural gas.
6European countries that are even more heavily dependent on Russia have been especially resistant to act.
7EU leaders agreed late Monday to cut around 90 percent of all Russian oil imports brought in by sea over the next six months.
8The ban permits a temporary exemption for imports delivered by pipeline.
9The exemption was critical in bringing Hungary on board with the decision, which required approval from all EU leaders.
10Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had made clear he could support the oil ban only if his country's supply was guaranteed.
11Hungary gets more than 60 percent of its oil from Russia through the Druzhba pipeline.
12Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo on Tuesday called the oil ban, or embargo, a "big step forward."
13Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin called it "a watershed moment."
14A watershed moment describes a major event that changes the direction of a situation.
15Both leaders also noted that Europe would need time to get used to the effects of the ban.
16They said any additional bans on Russian energy could only come slowly, if at all.
17Dmitry Medvedev is the deputy head of Russia's Security Council.
18Medvedev is also a former Russian president and prime minister.
19He said Tuesday that energy sanctions against the country were meant to hurt Russian citizens by making it harder for the government to fund social programs.
20"They hate us all! The basis for these decisions is hatred for Russia, for Russians, and for all its inhabitants,"
21Medvedev wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
22Simone Tagliapietra is an energy expert and research fellow at the Brussels-based organization Bruegel.
23She said Russia would likely have to sell its oil at a lower cost to other buyers.
24She called the embargo "a major blow."
25Russia has also made moves to withhold its energy supplies, even with the economic damage it could suffer as a result.
26Russian energy company Gazprom said it cut natural gas supplies to Dutch trader GasTerra on Tuesday.
27The move was announced before EU leaders agreed to the embargo.
28Russia already cut supplies to Bulgaria, Poland and Finland.
29It is considering doing the same to Denmark.
30GasTerra said homes would not be affected; it had bought gas from other countries because it expected a possible shutoff.
31Talks on Tuesday at EU headquarters in Brussels centered on ways to end the EU's dependence on Russian energy.
32Leaders also expected to discuss how to help Ukraine export millions of tons of grain trapped inside the country as a worldwide food crisis grows.
33Leaders are calling on Russia to halt its attacks on transport infrastructure in Ukraine and lift its blockade of Black Sea ports so that food can be shipped.
34Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia has prevented the export of 22 million tons of grain,
35much of it meant for people across the Middle East and Africa.
36He accused Russia of "deliberately creating this problem."
37I'm Ashley Thompson.
1The European Union (EU) has agreed to ban the majority of Russian oil imports. The agreement marks the biggest move yet to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine. 2Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Western nations have sought to punish Russia economically for its aggression. But targeting the energy sector has proven difficult. 3The EU depends on Russia for 25 percent of its oil and 40 percent of its natural gas. European countries that are even more heavily dependent on Russia have been especially resistant to act. 4EU leaders agreed late Monday to cut around 90 percent of all Russian oil imports brought in by sea over the next six months. 5The ban permits a temporary exemption for imports delivered by pipeline. The exemption was critical in bringing Hungary on board with the decision, which required approval from all EU leaders. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had made clear he could support the oil ban only if his country's supply was guaranteed. Hungary gets more than 60 percent of its oil from Russia through the Druzhba pipeline. 6Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo on Tuesday called the oil ban, or embargo, a "big step forward." Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin called it "a watershed moment." A watershed moment describes a major event that changes the direction of a situation. 7Both leaders also noted that Europe would need time to get used to the effects of the ban. They said any additional bans on Russian energy could only come slowly, if at all. 8Dmitry Medvedev is the deputy head of Russia's Security Council. Medvedev is also a former Russian president and prime minister. He said Tuesday that energy sanctions against the country were meant to hurt Russian citizens by making it harder for the government to fund social programs. 9"They hate us all! The basis for these decisions is hatred for Russia, for Russians, and for all its inhabitants," Medvedev wrote on the Telegram messaging app. 10Simone Tagliapietra is an energy expert and research fellow at the Brussels-based organization Bruegel. She said Russia would likely have to sell its oil at a lower cost to other buyers. She called the embargo "a major blow." 11Russia has also made moves to withhold its energy supplies, even with the economic damage it could suffer as a result. Russian energy company Gazprom said it cut natural gas supplies to Dutch trader GasTerra on Tuesday. The move was announced before EU leaders agreed to the embargo. Russia already cut supplies to Bulgaria, Poland and Finland. It is considering doing the same to Denmark. 12GasTerra said homes would not be affected; it had bought gas from other countries because it expected a possible shutoff. 13Talks on Tuesday at EU headquarters in Brussels centered on ways to end the EU's dependence on Russian energy. Leaders also expected to discuss how to help Ukraine export millions of tons of grain trapped inside the country as a worldwide food crisis grows. 14Leaders are calling on Russia to halt its attacks on transport infrastructure in Ukraine and lift its blockade of Black Sea ports so that food can be shipped. 15Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia has prevented the export of 22 million tons of grain, much of it meant for people across the Middle East and Africa. He accused Russia of "deliberately creating this problem." 16I'm Ashley Thompson. 17The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. 18________________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20inhabitant - n. a person or animal that lives in a particular place 21exemption - n. freedom from being required to do something that others are required to do 22deliberately - adv. in a way that is meant, intended, or planned 23We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page .