Explainer: What does a US ban on Russian oil accomplish?
As Russia has intensified its war on Ukraine, killing civilians and triggering a mass refugee crisis, President Joe Biden is expected to announce a ban on importing Russian fuel, according to a person familiar with the matter. Critics of Russia have said this would be the best — perhaps only — way to force Moscow to pull back.
A full embargo would be most effective if it included European allies, which are also desperate to stop the violence in Ukraine and the danger Moscow poses to the continent. Yet it’s far from clear that Europe would take part in a total embargo.
Unlike the United States, Europe is deeply reliant on energy it imports from Russia. While the U.S. could replace the relatively small amount of fuel it receives from Moscow, Europe could not, at least not anytime soon.
