Macron warns Europe of consequences next winter if it imposes embargo
The EU continues to impose energy bans on Russia amid an ongoing energy crisis that could push the EU downhill.
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Macron warns Europe of the consequences next winter if it imposes an embargo.
If Europe decides to impose a gas embargo on Russia, the consequences would be seen next winter, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday.
"We will not see the consequences of this [sanctions against Russian energy resources] in the spring and summer of 2022 [as gas storages have been replenished], but next winter, we will feel them if there is no more Russian gas," Macron said in an interview with the Ouest-France daily.
France's Macron says embargo on Russian gas imports not being discussed
The issue of imposing sanctions on Russia's oil and gas supplies to Europe may be on the agenda of discussions about new sanctions against Moscow, but it is not being considered at the moment, according to French President Emmanuel Macron in an interview published on Friday in the Italian Corriere della Sera newspaper.
"This issue [of embargo on Russian gas and oil] may appear on a negotiating table, but not today. Negotiations on coal and oil are already underway, but not yet on gas. We are aware of the enormous difficulties, which it causes. That is why you have been hearing for many years that I am talking about the energy sovereignty of Europe," Macron said.
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The President went on to declare that if the Europeans face reciprocal bans on hydrocarbon fuel supplies, they will have to "resort to... all means."
"At that moment we will explain that we have to lower the temperature, slightly lower it to be less dependent. We will not observe the consequences in the spring or summer of 2022 (we have replenished reserves), but this will not happen next winter if we do not have [a supply of] Russian gas," Macron was quoted by the newspaper as saying.
He added that "this is not the scenario we are experiencing today, but it may occur."
Earlier in the day, French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire stated that the European Union may impose an embargo on Russian oil imports in the coming weeks, but no specific date has been set, emphasizing that there is "resistance and concern" among EU members over the idea of imposing an embargo on Russian oil supplies.
