Donald Trump has shut down all Russian oil sales to the European Union, ending a Biden-era policy that allowed transactions despite sanctions. Key EU economies will face significant consequences.
U.S. President Donald Trump has blocked the sale of Russian oil to the European Union, effectively closing a loophole that had allowed European nations to continue purchasing Russian fuel despite sanctions. This move comes after the expiration of a Biden administration policy that had permitted sanctioned Russian banks to process fuel transactions for EU buyers. As a result, no country in Europe can now legally purchase Russian oil.
Major EU Economies Affected by the Decision
The decision has major implications for key EU economies, including Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Belgium, and Hungary. According to Wprost.pl, “Despite assurances of the necessity to cut off supplies from Russia, in reality, among the major EU importers, only Poland has completely switched from Russian oil to Saudi oil.” This highlights Poland as the only major EU economy to have fully transitioned away from Russian oil. Meanwhile, much of the oil recorded as imports by the Netherlands and Belgium ultimately supplies the German market, underlining the dependency of Western Europe on Russian energy.