EU Delays Russian Oil Ban Amid Global Energy Crisis

The European Commission has delayed its plan to propose a permanent ban on Russian oil imports.

It was set for April 15, but an updated schedule shows it won't happen then.

The move comes amid bigger global energy worries.

An EU official says the proposal isn't off the table.

It's just pushed back because of recent geopolitical shifts, like the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

That war has caused the largest oil supply disruptions ever, according to the International Energy Agency.

And driven up crude prices worldwide, EU countries have already cut Russian oil imports to just 1 percent

by the final quarter of 2025.

Most seaborn supplies are gone due to existing sanctions.

The new law would lock in a full phase out by the end of 2027, even if peace returns to Ukraine.

Hungary and Slovakia still gets some Russian oil through pipelines, but a recent Ukrainian drone strike disrupted flows.

Those two nations blame key for delays, sparking a dispute.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, up for election soon, strongly opposes the ban and keeps ties with Moscow.

European Commission President Ursula Vonder Lyon warns that relying on Russian energy again would be a big mistake for Europe's security.

For now, the focus stays on navigating these oil market shocks without rushing new rules.

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