Germany makes push to quit Russian oil by late summer
PBS NewsHourSep 09, 2022
Diplomats: EU Leaning Towards Russian Oil Ban by Year's End
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The Facts
Europe is under pressure to put forward a 6th package of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine. The package is expected to target Russian oil, Russian and Belarusian banks, and additional individuals and companies.
The European Commission is also set to propose a plan to gradually move away from Russian oil to ensure that Germany remains on board and that international oil markets are minimally disrupted.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
A ban on Russian oil is risky business, but Europe has some options to source to other countries - including the US. It's possible that Moscow would retaliate and use natural gas as a political weapon, so this needs to be calculated very carefully.
Establishment-critical narrative
Any decision in the EU Commission requires unanimity. If the Commission proposes sanctions on Russian natural gas and oil, Hungary would simply veto it. Moreover, it's hypocritical to impose sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine, but not on the US for invading Iraq for equally unjustified reasons.
