EU Considers Tariffs to Cut Russian Fuel Imports

At the UN General Assembly, U.S. President Donald Trump urged European countries to stop buying Russian oil and gas and threatened “a very strong round of powerful tariffs” if they did not, saying purchases fund the war in Ukraine. EU leaders including Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas have largely agreed remaining imports must end, and Brussels is working to accelerate a planned 2027–2028 phase‑out of Russian fuel while preparing targeted tariffs or duties to raise the cost of Russian oil and gas entering the single market. The measures are aimed at the small number of member states still taking Russian supplies, notably Hungary and Slovakia, which continue to receive Urals crude via the Druzhba pipeline, and EU proposals specifically target that route. Finland’s foreign minister backed tougher action and Brussels is assembling targeted measures to hasten alternative supplies. The Kremlin dismissed Trump’s stance as driven by U.S. energy interests, and analysts note past sanctions had limited economic effect because Russia redirected supplies to markets like China and India.