European countries have been calling for an embargo on Russian gas and oil as they continue to condemn Moscow’s ongoing military operation in Ukraine. French President, Emmanuel Macron, has warned that Europe might face consequences next winter if it agrees to go this way.
“We will not see the consequences of this in the spring and summer of 2022, but next winter, we will feel them if there is no more Russian gas,” Macron said.
A similar sentiment was voiced by German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, in his interview with Der Spiegel.
“I absolutely do not see how a gas embargo would end the war. If [Russian President Vladimir] Putin were open to economic arguments, he would never have begun this crazy war,” he said.
The chancellor also said that the issue is not about money, but rather about “avoiding a dramatic economic crisis and the loss of millions of jobs and factories that would never again open their doors.”
President Macron earlier hinted that the issue of sanctions against Russian oil and gas could be put on an agenda, “but not today”.
“Negotiations on coal and oil are already underway, but not yet on gas. We are aware of enormous difficulties, which it causes,” Macron specified.
Thus, although the European countries have been considering the idea of ending imports of Russian gas and oil as a means of sanctioning Moscow over its military operation in Ukraine, it seems that the EU does not see unity when it comes to this initiative.
Ru-Main, 22.04.2022
Source: Sputnik
