Europe relies on Russia for crude oil and natural gas but has become more open to the idea of a ban on Russian products. AFP
Europe relies on Russia for crude oil and natural gas but has become more open to the idea of a ban on Russian products. AFP
Europe relies on Russia for crude oil and natural gas but has become more open to the idea of a ban on Russian products. AFP
Europe relies on Russia for crude oil and natural gas but has become more open to the idea of a ban on Russian products. AFP

Europe steps back from US effort to ban Russian oil and gas


Jamie Prentis
  • English
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Live updates: follow the latest news on Russia-Ukraine

European countries distanced themselves from a US effort that may result in a ban on Russian oil imports, as leaders from Moscow and Kiev prepared to meet in Belarus for a third round of ceasefire talks.

Western countries are in agreement that they must move away from their dependence on Russian gas. There are disagreements over how quickly that should happen and if the Russian oil and gas industry should be sanctioned following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Europe has deliberately exempted energy supplies from Russia from sanctions,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday.

“Supplying Europe with energy for heat, mobility, electricity supply and industry cannot be secured in any other way at the moment. It is therefore of essential importance for the provision of public services and the daily lives of our citizens.”

Europe relies on Russia for crude oil and natural gas but has become more open to the idea of a ban on Russian products.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, speaking alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte, said “we have to be mindful” that some countries held “different dependencies”.

“You can’t simply close down use of oil and gas overnight, even from Russia. That’s obviously not something every country around the world can do,” he said, adding that the UK could quickly shift away from Russian gas.

“What we need to do is make sure we are all moving in the same direction, and we all share the same assumptions and we accelerate that move, and I think that is what you are going to see. You’ve heard that from leaders around the world,” Mr Johnson said.

“But clearly there is going to be a transitional period. We are going to have to look for supply, we are going to have to look for substitute supplies from elsewhere, and we are going to have to do it together across the entire coalition of countries that is now condemning Putin’s actions.”

Mr Rutte conceded that it was a “painful reality” that many countries were “still very much dependent on” Russian gas and oil.

The price of oil surged on Monday to its highest for 14 years after Washington revealed that it is in talks with European allies over a ban on Russian imports.

Gas prices soared by more than 70 per cent to hit an all-time high as fears over supplies from Russia continued to rock the market.

Prices are now more than 20 times higher what they were two years ago, increasing on Monday from records set last week.

The EU relied on Russia for about 46 per cent of its gas and around a quarter of its oil in the first part of last year.

“We have to dramatically reduce our dependency on gas and oil from Russia. That will take time,” Mr Rutte said.

Forcing companies to stop doing business with Russia now would have “enormous consequences”, he said.

“It would basically undermine supply chains the world over, particularly in Europe. It would also have an impact on Ukraine itself.”

US President Joe Biden was scheduled to hold a video conference call with the leaders of France, Germany and the UK on Monday as his administration sought their support for an imports ban.

During a visit to Latvia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Russian attacks on humanitarian corridors "shameful", but he again ruled out a Nato-imposed no fly zone over Ukraine.

“There continue to be reports of attacks by Russian forces on agreed upon humanitarian corridors," he said. "We’ve seen scenes like this before in Europe. Now Russia is starving out cities like Mariupol. It’s shameful."

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday accused his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of hypocrisy and cynicism after Moscow said it would open humanitarian corridors to civilians from several Ukrainian cities to leave, but only to Russia or Belarus.

"All this is not serious, it is moral and political cynicism, which I find intolerable," he said.

if you go

The flights

Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.

The hotel

Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.

The tour

Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg

The biog

Place of birth: Kalba

Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren

Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken

Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah

Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”

The story in numbers

18

This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens

450,000

More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps

1.5 million

There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m

73

The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association

18,000

The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme

77,400

The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study

4,926

This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Haircare resolutions 2021

From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.

1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'

You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.

2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'

Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.

3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’

Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.

Company profile

Name: Fruitful Day

Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie

Based: Dubai, UAE

Founded: 2015

Number of employees: 30

Sector: F&B

Funding so far: Dh3 million

Future funding plans: None at present

Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20myZoi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Syed%20Ali%2C%20Christian%20Buchholz%2C%20Shanawaz%20Rouf%2C%20Arsalan%20Siddiqui%2C%20Nabid%20Hassan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2037%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Initial%20undisclosed%20funding%20from%20SC%20Ventures%3B%20second%20round%20of%20funding%20totalling%20%2414%20million%20from%20a%20consortium%20of%20SBI%2C%20a%20Japanese%20VC%20firm%2C%20and%20SC%20Venture%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Gulf Under 19s final

Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B

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War and the virus
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Updated: March 07, 2022, 6:30 PM`