For the EU it’s no longer whether, yet when and how import restrictions on Russian oil and gas will be forced on Moscow.

EU nations’ colossal reliance on Russian energy has demonstrated a shortcoming in the ongoing emergency. Be that as it may, the European Commission is endeavoring to get all part states ready for the planning of oil sanctions.

EU regulations say the decision must be unanimous. Big power Germany is no longer opposed. It’s just announced a reduction in Russian oil dependency from 35% a few weeks ago to 12%.

Italy prefers price caps on oil to phasing out Russian imports, but Germany and others refuse.

They say it would mean negotiating with Moscow (which the EU says it doesn’t want to do under the current circumstances) to find a mutually agreeable price, or unilaterally paying Moscow less and risking the Russian oil taps to the whole bloc suddenly being switched off.