comment: >
  
  I didn't know continents could enact bans on imports. Is Russia banning imports from its european side too?
context: Pity South Africa  is still arse creeping putin and by buying Russian oil,,,  we are supporting the massacre of the Ukrainians  and Putins war crimes >
  
  South Africa isn't a rich nation. I don't expect much from them.
  What Russia needs to be classified as is "state sponsor of terror" where nobody in the west can do business with them. And anybody else who does business with them, is cut off from the west.
  I know this is a last resort, but Russia is getting awfully close to having that hand played against them >
  
  Gotta give countries time to wean off the Russian tit and find alternative sources of energy >
  
  Wouldn't that increase prices for Europe? >
  
  It Depends©. It's possible that Russian oil was always the better short term option despite being the worse long term option, and this will kick short term profit focused corporations into actually making the better long term move. >
  
  and what are these cheap longterm options you talk off to replace natural gas? 
  Russians gas prices were more or less stable since the year 2000. It was damn cheap. 
  I am german and I had 2 price hikes. I pay now 80% more than before the war.
  It is the price we have to pay and we pay it no need to bs that it will be cheaper in the long run. >
  
  get a heat pump ! >
  
  Greater than half of Germany are renters.
  Good luck convincing a landlord to spend 10-30k to lower bills they don't have to pay. >
  
  Shouldn't be too hard with enough subsidies, since you can raise rent higher if the electricity cost is lowered.
  Though I don't know if this (government subsidies to upgrade old and inefficient tech) is common in most european countries or just a few. >
  
  The EU or Europe? >
  
  If it was just the headline I'd let it slide, but they say it too in the body ugh >
  
  Especially when they are referring to a product made in a country with a capital and the majority of their population in Europe. >
  
  Europe bans itself in its confusion! >
  
  At the same time Europe increases oil imports from India which just imports from Russia lol
  So you get to look like a good guy in the eyes of public while nothing really changed >
  
  India is buying the oil well below the EU imposed cap. So Russia is suffering, even if India makes a bank reselling the oil. Sanctions are not meant to hurt India but Russia. >
  
  90% of the oil is bought by private refineries and exported to europe. Indian oil magnates are making bank. Indians are still suffering under high fuel prices >
  
  This isn't strictly true, as the oil magnates are subject to heavy windfall taxes, which will subsidize the poor >
  
  Wasn’t that supposed to happen 12 months ago? >
  
  A reduction is usage, finding alternative sources was all planned, ween off Russian sources. But the official embargo, making it illegal was essentially set in stone last year to come into effect in Feb this year. 
  That's what's now happening. >
  
  About time. >
  
  I don't disagree. But it was a "long term" strategy to allow EU members to prepare for the embargo. The significant rises in energy prices and fuel we've seen (3x cost to residential user) was essentially planned as a "cost the public could bear" to get to this point. 
  Public opinion would have shifted more inward if energy prices rose say 6-8x instead of it was a more immediate and sharp cut off. 
  It's also the reason Hungary and Austria were against cutting off Russian supplies. While 6% was the average across EU members in consumption of Russian sources, theirs were much higher still and essentially feared the cost of living rising if they cut off sooner, knowing the embargo was eventually coming anyway. 
  The fear was in retaliation Russia would cut off feed to their countries and cause more economic harm in the backlash, regardless of how it would affect Russian sales. >
  
  Way to go putin. You've single-handedly destroyed the market for your only product... your only product besides mayhem, lies, deceit and hooliganism that is. >
  
  Like their gas exports to Europe, a massive market that the USSR and Russia spent 40 years developing but destroyed by Putin in ten months. >
  
  It says refined products…meanwhile the Druzhba pipeline is just chugging along supplying refineries across Europe…
  I believe more than 90% of fuel in Berlin comes from a refinery in Schwedt…which is supplied by Druzhba >
  
  No more oil from Russia since January 1st. Drushba is still in use to transport oil from the harbour of Danzig to Schwedt. >
  
  Diesel is shit anyway plus it’ll be good for the environment in the long term >
  
  Either American or rich. Diesel runs Europe sadly. >
  
  i remember the popularity with diesel powered cars in Europe. the occasional ping or knock, but definitely go further on a gallon. Starting up in the harsh winter was a bit of a trouble though >
  
  Winter diesel is a godsend indeed for the cold months. >
  
  Really? Do you have any stats on that? Are people just stupid or is there any particular reason? Meanwhile other countries restrict the use of diesel altogether, since it’s really shitty for the environment. And sales are down to almost zero. 
  I am not uninformed for example Germany is planning (or already enforced) banning diesel vehicles in cities completely.
  Also Russia is not the only place selling diesel so it may not affect Italy particularly much. I am surprised it wasn’t banned already. There are always new things coming out of things that was not yet part of the sanctions against Russia. They are acting so lame with the sanctions. >
  
  Ehhhhh, here in Spain ICE cars is the common note. Specially diesel. Even new cars. >
  
  public transportation is a myth? you obviously have never visited majority of north America >
  
  The hell has America to do with anything here? Rural Northern Ireland is what I'm experiencing daily. Public transport here is an unreliable monopoly that nobody uses because it's garbage. >
  
  So basically the same as Canada or the US? if anything Europe is waaay more public transit centralized lol. >
  
  
  if anything Europe is waaay more public transit centralized lol.
  
  OP is trying to tell you, that no matter how much better European public transport is in comparison to North America, it's still far from being fairy tale many suggest is happening here. It can be really bad, especially in rural areas but not limited to. Yes, I'm from Europe. >
  
  You fools gonna belive this? Just like with the gas,diesel and oil will continue to flow. >
  
  Anyway    the Chinese have not given us anything......   we have ro pay a very  very heavy price >
  
  People in here saying it should have happened last year, fuck that noise, trade should have ceased with russia the moment they invaded Crimea back in February 2014. >
  
  Less money more oil for Russia.... >
  
  Poland will provide all the oil and gas the Eu needs. It just has to be stepped on a little first. >
  
  Um... what? Where do they take the gas and oil. Unicorns? >
  
  Are they moving to horses?  Greta will be pleased. >
  
  It just gets bought from elsewhere.
  Others get cheap Russian diesel ?
  Aren't Saudi buying more crude at the moment than they are selling? >
  
  Not sure about that, but then again it seems crazy to me that Saudi Arabia are importing any oil at all. >
  
  I think this is to push electric cars. Dont be naive...theres big lobbies in the EU >
  
  Is that bad? >
  
  Its bad when you check how the materials for electrical batteries are extracted. Theres really dangerous conditions in mines in Africa and Asia. Even child labour. >
  
  This is oil lobby propaganda. >
  
  Im just a normal person commenting. Believe what you wish. Time will prove the truth >
  
  Oh I don't think you're part of the oil lobby. >
  
  Arent you a polite ray of sunshine... >
  
  There's a war going on, on top of climate change, and you're pushing for it to continue. So yeah, read it and weep. >
  
  And where do " you" think Africa  is going now.