The EU’s ban on coal imports from Russia was expected to be approved in the next few days and take effect from August. The effective date was one month later than scheduled as Germany, the main importer of Russia’s coal, pressured the EU to delay the sanctions.

The import ban on Russia’s coal was the fifth package of sanctions proposed by the European Commission this week in response to Russian atrocities in Bucha. This import ban was estimated to lead to a loss of EUR 4 billion a year for Russia.

The ban will be the first one imposed by the EU against Russia’s energy imports after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 if it is approved. However, oil and gas haven’t been banned so far.