OREANDA-NEWS. EU countries intend to stop importing Russian coal in the summer, and to give up Russian oil by the end of the year, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in an interview with The Indian Express newspaper. According to him, the EU is now implementing an ambitious policy to reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports from Russia.

We will stop importing Russian coal this summer, we will phase out Russian oil before the end of the year, and we will seriously reduce gas imports from Russia,” he said.

Scholz noted that the military operation that Russia is conducting on the territory of Ukraine has serious consequences for the global economy, in particular, it affects the supply of wheat and food security around the world. He added that the European Union has adopted unprecedented sanctions against Russia and individuals.

According to AFP, the EU will propose a phase-out of Russian oil within six to eight months. New restrictions can be submitted for consideration to the participating countries as early as May 4th. A ban on Russian energy imports became more likely after Germany, which had previously resisted the idea, changed its mind. Nevertheless, there are still opponents of the embargo in the EU camp.

According to DPA, Hungary, Austria and Slovakia, as well as Spain, Italy and Greece oppose the embargo on Russian oil. Slovakia and Hungary still oppose an immediate ban on Russian oil imports, largely because of their dependence on Russian energy supplies. Meanwhile, in the countries of Southern Europe, with great concern, they expect a rapid rise in energy prices, which may lead to an embargo.