Europe strikes to finish all Russian fuel imports

[ad_1] Almost 4 years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, EU power ministers agreed to help a plan to ban Russian fuel imports from Jan. 1, 2028 because of Moscow’s "weaponization" of fuel provides, the Council of the European Union stated in a press launch on Oct. 20.

Regardless of largely weaning itself off Russian oil , the EU continues to be the largest importer of Russian liquified pure fuel (LNG) , purchasing nearly 5 billion euros ($5.8 billion) value within the first half of 2025 — 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) greater than the identical interval final yr. In flip, Washington has pressed Europe to hurry up its complete embargo of Russian power, together with fuel, because it seems to be to place extra stress on Moscow to finish its struggle.

Solely Russia pleasant Hungary and Slovakia, refused to back the invoice, which terminates Russian pipeline and LNG imports, the Monetary Occasions reported.

The primary section of the ban will start on Jan. 1, 2026 with a grace interval for current contracts: quick time period contracts concluded earlier than June 17, 2025 can run till June 17, 2026, and long-term contracts till Jan. 1, 2028.

The textual content of the regulation — which isn't remaining — will probably be despatched to the European Parliament for approval.

"The regulation constitutes a central component of the EU's REPowerEU roadmap to finish dependency on Russian power, following Russia's weaponization of fuel provides and repeated disruptions of fuel provides to the EU with vital results on the European power market," the council wrote.

As Russian attacks , financed partly by large power and gasoline revenues, drive Ukraine into blackouts , European nations have welcomed the invoice, which can slash billions from Russia’s funds.

"As we speak’s settlement within the EU Council to totally ban Russian fuel imports by 2028 sends an unequivocal message: aggressors don't have any place in Europe’s power market," Estonia’s Overseas Affairs Minister Margus Tsahkna wrote on X on Oct 20.

"Russia continues to weaponize power revenues to finance its brutal struggle machine. Phasing out Russian fuel is not only about lowering dependency, it’s a strategic transfer to bolster Europe’s safety and resilience."

Ukraine had a plan on how to engage with Trump. Then, Putin called

President Volodymyr Zelensky, his team, and allies have been working for months to bring U.S. President Donald Trump into Ukraine’s corner. Days before Zelensky arrived in Washington to meet with Trump on Oct. 17, the two leaders spoke twice by phone, fueling hopes that the visit would bring tangible results. Trump publicly weighed in on the transfer of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. Then, Vladimir Putin called. The call between the U.S. and Russian presidents effectively derailed the W

<img alt="Article image" loading="lazy" width="800" height="450" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent;object-fit:cover" sizes="50vw" srcset="/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2241661611.jpg&w=256&q=100 256w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2241661611.jpg&w=360&q=100 360w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2241661611.jpg&w=414&q=100 414w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2241661611.jpg&w=640&q=100 640w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2241661611.jpg&w=768&q=100 768w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2241661611.jpg&w=1024&q=100 1024w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2241661611.jpg&w=1280&q=100 1280w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2241661611.jpg&w=1536&q=100 1536w" src="https://kyivindependent.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2241661611.jpg&w=1536&q=100"/> The principle opponents to the invoice are Hungary and Slovakia , which have repeatedly kicked up a fuss when pressured to chop their ties to low cost Russian energy. They continue to be the final two importers of Russian oil within the EU.

Each international locations complain that it's tougher for them to search out different fuel imports since they're landlocked, regardless of Brussels proposing a number of different routes, together with by way of Croatia.

"With RePowerEU, our protected power provide is being killed. They name it diversification, however in actuality, it cuts certainly one of our very important oil routes. The EU Fee utterly ignores that this regulation destroys the power safety of EU Member States" Hungary’s Overseas Affairs and Commerce Minister Peter Szijjarto wrote on X on Oct. 20.

As a part of the proposed regulation, current fuel contracts with Russia can't be amended "apart from some particular flexibilities for landlocked member states affected by latest adjustments in provide routes," the council wrote. That offers Hungary and Slovakia the possibility to vary and improve fuel volumes underneath their present contracts with Russia.

The council additionally stated these members persevering with to import Russian fuel must submit a diversification technique detailing their plans and potential challenges to sourcing new fuel provides. The identical will probably be required for international locations importing Russian oil imports, i.e. Hungary and Slovakia, which the council additionally needs to section out by 2028.

Russian fuel imports to the EU will probably be topic to further checks and scrutiny through the transitional interval, based on the council. Additional monitoring mechanisms will probably be set as much as stop Russian fuel from being transited by means of Europe to different markets.

The council will implement a previous authorization regime that requires data for non-Russian fuel 5 days earlier than entry into the EU, and a minimum of a month for Russian fuel. Blended LNG cargoes must show how a lot is Russian and non-Russian, with solely the non-Russian allowed into the EU.

EU mulls hitting Russia where it hurts — its shadow fleet

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg — The EU is preparing to strengthen its authority to board and inspect tankers linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet and is negotiating with some of the flag and coastal states to take measures, according to a draft proposal by the EU’s diplomatic service (EEAS), seen by Kyiv Independent. Moscow’s covert network of tankers, which operate under false flags, obscure ownership, and often nonexistent insurance, deliberately sail in legal grey zones of international waters

<img alt="Article image" loading="lazy" width="800" height="450" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent;object-fit:cover" sizes="50vw" srcset="/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2238142267.jpg&w=256&q=100 256w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2238142267.jpg&w=360&q=100 360w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2238142267.jpg&w=414&q=100 414w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2238142267.jpg&w=640&q=100 640w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2238142267.jpg&w=768&q=100 768w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2238142267.jpg&w=1024&q=100 1024w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2238142267.jpg&w=1280&q=100 1280w, /_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2238142267.jpg&w=1536&q=100 1536w" src="https://kyivindependent.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.kyivindependent.com%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2F2025%2F10%2FGettyImages-2238142267.jpg&w=1536&q=100"/> [ad_2] Source link