EU Proposes Permanent Ban on Russian Oil Imports; Moscow Slams Move as "Madness"

Key Facts

1The European Commission is preparing to submit a legal proposal on April 15 to make the ban on Russian oil imports permanent.

2Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova labeled the plan "madness" and called EU leaders "madmen."

The European Commission is set to formalize its energy decoupling from Russia by submitting a legal proposal for a permanent ban on oil imports on April 15. This move aims to solidify existing temporary measures into a long-term regulatory framework, ensuring no return to pre-war energy dependencies. In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova sharply criticized the plan, labeling it "madness" and questioning the economic rationality of European leadership. Market analysts suggest that a permanent ban could institutionalize supply constraints, potentially maintaining a high geopolitical risk premium for global benchmarks. Consequently, prices for Brent Crude and WTI may face upward pressure as the industry adjusts to restructured long-term supply routes. The escalation highlights the deepening rift between the EU and Moscow, with energy security remaining at the forefront of the geopolitical conflict.