US to impose ban on Russian products
Europe prepares for Russian product import ban
The European products market is the latest battlefield in the conflict between Moscow and the West
Russia has long sought to weaponise its critical role in the energy markets, and since launching its botched invasion of Ukraine almost a year ago, Moscow has intensified those efforts with the goal of driving a wedge between Kyiv and its European allies. But conversely, the EU is attempting to use its massive purchasing power to retaliate through the introduction of various market-intervention measures. The bloc banned imports of Russian crude on 5 December—with some notable exemptions, particularly for Bulgaria—and will impose a similar ban on Russian products on 5 February. The European Commission says the bans are “designed to maximise the negative impact of the sanctions for the Russian
Also in this section
9 January 2026
The Latin American producer’s crude prospects rely on a multi-pronged approach where even the relatively easy wins will take considerable time, effort and cost
9 January 2026
While many forecasters are reasserting the importance of oil and gas, petrostates should be under no illusion things are changing, and faster than they might think
8 January 2026
Indonesia and Malaysia are at the dawn of breathtaking digital capabilities. Their energy infrastructure must keep up with their ambitions
8 January 2026
The next five years will be critical for the North Sea, and it will be policy not geology that will decide the basin’s future
