EU targets Russian oil, patriarch in new sanctions

EU chief proposes 'orderly' Russian oil import ban

The Russian oil embargo is part of the EU's sixth sanction package

The European Union's executive unveiled Wednesday plans for a gradual ban on Russian oil imports as part of a raft of new sanctions to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine.

The European Commission also proposed slapping sanctions on Russia's biggest bank and on Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

But it will still not touch Russia's huge gas exports -- and several EU member states are demanding an extension while they secure new sources of fuel.

The oil embargo would be part of the bloc's sixth sanction package and would be phased-in over the rest of the year. It needs to be adopted unanimously by the EU's 27 countries.

- Extra year -

But, she added, "we will make sure that we phase out Russian oil in an orderly fashion". The ban would come in gradually over the next six months, and for refined fuels by the end of the year. 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov -- whose wife, son and daughter were also targeted on Wednesday -- said the EU would "pay a high price in trying to hurt us.

The proposal asks that Hungary and Slovakia, both dependent on Russian oil, be given an extra year to meet the ban, according to a document seen by AFP. 

"We support the toughest sanctions possible against Russia... but from the start we have been saying the sanctions must not harm Czech citizens more than Russia," he said.

- 'Miracle of God' -

Confirming his fears, oil prices soared more than four percent to above $108 a barrel when news of the plan hit the markets.

Von der Leyen also said her proposal would deny Sberbank, Russia's biggest bank, access to SWIFT, the global banking communications system.

Her proposal also targeted Patriarch Kirill, calling him "a long-time ally of President Vladimir Putin who has become one of the most prominent supporters" of the war.

Von der Leyen said the new list also includes Russian military personnel deployed to Ukraine "who committed war crimes in Bucha and who are responsible for the inhuman siege of the city of Mariupol".

The EU also proposed banning more Russian broadcasters from the airwaves in Europe. 

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