BRUSSELS, March 24 (Reuters) – The European Commission will no longer submit a legal proposal to permanently ban Russian oil imports over Moscow’s war in Ukraine on April 15 as previously planned, an updated EU legislative agenda showed on Tuesday.
An EU official, however, told Reuters the proposal had not been cancelled and would still be published though no longer by the mid-April date due to „current geopolitical developments“.
The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran is creating the biggest oil supply disruption in history, according to the International Energy Agency, sending global crude prices soaring.
The proposal would fix into law a full phase-out of Russian oil imports by no later than end-2027. The European Union has already legislated a phase-out by late 2027 of gas imports from Russia.
PROPOSAL WOULD KEEP BAN IN PLACE IF RUSSIA SANCTIONS LIFTED
The measure would have little immediate impact on physical supplies, since the EU was importing just 1% of its oil from Russia by the final quarter of 2025, having slashed imports since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
But Brussels wants to enshrine a full phase-out of Russian oil in legislation that would remain in place, even if a peace deal in the Ukraine war eventually leads to the EU lifting sanctions.
EU sanctions on seaborne Russian oil have already eliminated most of the bloc’s imports.
Hungary and Slovakia were the only two EU countries still importing Russian oil by January 27, when Kyiv said a Russian drone strike hit pipeline equipment in Ukraine, disrupting Russian oil shipments. Budapest and Bratislava have accused Ukraine of deliberately delaying the resumption of oil flows, triggering a political dispute that has seen Hungary block an EU loan to Kyiv.
The initial April 15 date would have seen the EU proposal land three days after Hungary’s parliamentary election. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has maintained cordial ties with Moscow despite the Ukraine war, is strongly opposed to any ban.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this month that returning to Russian energy would be „a strategic blunder“ and make Europe more vulnerable.
*Reporting by Kate Abnett; Editing by Inti Landauro and Joe Bavier*
HighDeltaVee on
The EU currently imports ~1% of its oil from Russia, and dropping.
There is zero point in adding more stress, cost and turmoil to the oil markets right in the middle of a global fuel crisis.
Any-Original-6113 on
The article says there will be no easing — the postponement is more of a technical matter.
-CynicalPole- on
Thank Trump for fucking over a mess in middle east. Fucking orange moron does massive favors for Russia.
Swimming_Cover_9686 on
On what Basis? If it is due to the International Crime of Aggression we can’t buy US oil either.
Thick-Alternative916 on
How big of an hypocrite can you be: ‘We need to stop Russia whatever the costs’ but those same people keep importing Russian oil. Am I the only one that thinks that this does not make sense like at all?
dat_9600gt_user on
By Kate Abnett
March 24, 2026 1:33 PM UTC · Updated ago
Summary
* Proposal to fully ban Russian oil pushed to after April 15
* EU still planning law for full phase-out, official says
* Date moved as Iran war disrupts global oil supply
BRUSSELS, March 24 (Reuters) – The European Commission will no longer submit a legal proposal to permanently ban Russian oil imports over Moscow’s war in Ukraine on April 15 as previously planned, an updated EU legislative agenda showed on Tuesday.
An EU official, however, told Reuters the proposal had not been cancelled and would still be published though no longer by the mid-April date due to „current geopolitical developments“.
The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran is creating the biggest oil supply disruption in history, according to the International Energy Agency, sending global crude prices soaring.
The proposal would fix into law a full phase-out of Russian oil imports by no later than end-2027. The European Union has already legislated a phase-out by late 2027 of gas imports from Russia.
# PROPOSAL WOULD KEEP BAN IN PLACE IF RUSSIA SANCTIONS LIFTED
The measure would have little immediate impact on physical supplies, since the EU was importing just 1% of its oil from Russia by the final quarter of 2025, having slashed imports since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
But Brussels wants to enshrine a full phase-out of Russian oil in legislation that would remain in place, even if a peace deal in the Ukraine war eventually leads to the EU lifting sanctions.
EU sanctions on seaborne Russian oil have already eliminated most of the bloc’s imports.
Hungary and Slovakia were the only two EU countries still importing Russian oil by January 27, when Kyiv said a Russian drone strike hit pipeline equipment in Ukraine, disrupting Russian oil shipments. Budapest and Bratislava have accused Ukraine of deliberately delaying the resumption of oil flows, triggering a political dispute that has seen Hungary block an EU loan to Kyiv.
The initial April 15 date would have seen the EU proposal land three days after Hungary’s parliamentary election. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has maintained cordial ties with Moscow despite the Ukraine war, is strongly opposed to any ban.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this month that returning to Russian energy would be „a strategic blunder“ and make Europe more vulnerable.
Reporting by Kate Abnett; Editing by Inti Landauro and Joe Bavier
Salt-Cat4487 on
“Technical delay” in EU terms usually means internal disagreements that haven’t been fully resolved yet. The direction seems clear, but getting 27 countries aligned is never quick.
ILikeOldFilms on
With the new free trade with India, the EU can now easily import Indian gasoline made with Russian oil.
100% with for Russia.
Living-Recording5012 on
Of course they did, if there was no war this would have been a comedy
vkarabut on
Krasnov did well.
-SineNomine- on
Those who are about supporting Ukraine no matter what for moral reasons and sodding with Israel doing Putin things at the same time, should really question themselves. I see this hipocrycy a lot lately.
This is specifically not in answer to a single part, since I don’t mean to rage bait
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BRUSSELS, March 24 (Reuters) – The European Commission will no longer submit a legal proposal to permanently ban Russian oil imports over Moscow’s war in Ukraine on April 15 as previously planned, an updated EU legislative agenda showed on Tuesday.
An EU official, however, told Reuters the proposal had not been cancelled and would still be published though no longer by the mid-April date due to „current geopolitical developments“.
The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran is creating the biggest oil supply disruption in history, according to the International Energy Agency, sending global crude prices soaring.
The proposal would fix into law a full phase-out of Russian oil imports by no later than end-2027. The European Union has already legislated a phase-out by late 2027 of gas imports from Russia.
PROPOSAL WOULD KEEP BAN IN PLACE IF RUSSIA SANCTIONS LIFTED
The measure would have little immediate impact on physical supplies, since the EU was importing just 1% of its oil from Russia by the final quarter of 2025, having slashed imports since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
But Brussels wants to enshrine a full phase-out of Russian oil in legislation that would remain in place, even if a peace deal in the Ukraine war eventually leads to the EU lifting sanctions.
EU sanctions on seaborne Russian oil have already eliminated most of the bloc’s imports.
Hungary and Slovakia were the only two EU countries still importing Russian oil by January 27, when Kyiv said a Russian drone strike hit pipeline equipment in Ukraine, disrupting Russian oil shipments. Budapest and Bratislava have accused Ukraine of deliberately delaying the resumption of oil flows, triggering a political dispute that has seen Hungary block an EU loan to Kyiv.
The initial April 15 date would have seen the EU proposal land three days after Hungary’s parliamentary election. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has maintained cordial ties with Moscow despite the Ukraine war, is strongly opposed to any ban.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this month that returning to Russian energy would be „a strategic blunder“ and make Europe more vulnerable.
*Reporting by Kate Abnett; Editing by Inti Landauro and Joe Bavier*
The EU currently imports ~1% of its oil from Russia, and dropping.
There is zero point in adding more stress, cost and turmoil to the oil markets right in the middle of a global fuel crisis.
The article says there will be no easing — the postponement is more of a technical matter.
Thank Trump for fucking over a mess in middle east. Fucking orange moron does massive favors for Russia.
On what Basis? If it is due to the International Crime of Aggression we can’t buy US oil either.
How big of an hypocrite can you be: ‘We need to stop Russia whatever the costs’ but those same people keep importing Russian oil. Am I the only one that thinks that this does not make sense like at all?
By Kate Abnett
March 24, 2026 1:33 PM UTC · Updated ago
Summary
* Proposal to fully ban Russian oil pushed to after April 15
* EU still planning law for full phase-out, official says
* Date moved as Iran war disrupts global oil supply
BRUSSELS, March 24 (Reuters) – The European Commission will no longer submit a legal proposal to permanently ban Russian oil imports over Moscow’s war in Ukraine on April 15 as previously planned, an updated EU legislative agenda showed on Tuesday.
An EU official, however, told Reuters the proposal had not been cancelled and would still be published though no longer by the mid-April date due to „current geopolitical developments“.
The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran is creating the biggest oil supply disruption in history, according to the International Energy Agency, sending global crude prices soaring.
The proposal would fix into law a full phase-out of Russian oil imports by no later than end-2027. The European Union has already legislated a phase-out by late 2027 of gas imports from Russia.
# PROPOSAL WOULD KEEP BAN IN PLACE IF RUSSIA SANCTIONS LIFTED
The measure would have little immediate impact on physical supplies, since the EU was importing just 1% of its oil from Russia by the final quarter of 2025, having slashed imports since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
But Brussels wants to enshrine a full phase-out of Russian oil in legislation that would remain in place, even if a peace deal in the Ukraine war eventually leads to the EU lifting sanctions.
EU sanctions on seaborne Russian oil have already eliminated most of the bloc’s imports.
Hungary and Slovakia were the only two EU countries still importing Russian oil by January 27, when Kyiv said a Russian drone strike hit pipeline equipment in Ukraine, disrupting Russian oil shipments. Budapest and Bratislava have accused Ukraine of deliberately delaying the resumption of oil flows, triggering a political dispute that has seen Hungary block an EU loan to Kyiv.
The initial April 15 date would have seen the EU proposal land three days after Hungary’s parliamentary election. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has maintained cordial ties with Moscow despite the Ukraine war, is strongly opposed to any ban.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this month that returning to Russian energy would be „a strategic blunder“ and make Europe more vulnerable.
Reporting by Kate Abnett; Editing by Inti Landauro and Joe Bavier
“Technical delay” in EU terms usually means internal disagreements that haven’t been fully resolved yet. The direction seems clear, but getting 27 countries aligned is never quick.
With the new free trade with India, the EU can now easily import Indian gasoline made with Russian oil.
100% with for Russia.
Of course they did, if there was no war this would have been a comedy
Krasnov did well.
Those who are about supporting Ukraine no matter what for moral reasons and sodding with Israel doing Putin things at the same time, should really question themselves. I see this hipocrycy a lot lately.
This is specifically not in answer to a single part, since I don’t mean to rage bait