The United States on Tuesday “welcomed” the embargo on Russian oil imports decided by the 27 countries of the European Union to “hinder” this “strong point of Russia’s war machine”.
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EU leaders struck a deal on Monday that would cut their imports of Russian oil by some 90% by the end of the year to dry up funding for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
This embargo on crude oil within six months and refined products within eight months is the flagship measure, but also the thorniest of the sixth package of European sanctions against Russia which was blocked until now by Hungary.
“We welcome the embargo proposed by the EU on Russian oil,” American diplomatic spokesman Ned Price told the press in Washington, noting that the United States, less dependent than the Europeans on the regard to energy from Moscow, had already announced a ban on all imports of Russian hydrocarbons.
“We know there is broad support among our allies and partners, as we have seen again from the EU, for hampering the strong point of Russia’s war machine, namely its market energy,” he added. He also welcomed European efforts to diversify energy supplies and develop renewables in order to reduce dependence on Moscow “in the long term”.
“We are united in our determination to keep the pressure on President Putin and all those responsible for this war,” he said.
On the American side, Ned Price promised announcements “soon” in terms of additional weapons for kyiv.
