Russia-Ukraine conflict: Emmanuel Macron calls for ban on Russian oil and coal

Photos and video footage of mass graves and bodies in the Bucha region of Ukraine have been met with widespread condemnation as Russia continues to wage war with Ukraine. Following the emergence of the photos and videos, French President Emmanuel Macron called for a ban on Russian oil and coal.

Macron voiced support for banning Russian oil and coal as part of a new set of sanctions on Russia as it approaches two months into its invasion of Ukraine. This comes amidst the reports of atrocities that Russian forces left behind on the Ukrainian town of Bucha. Macron said that the new set of sanctions targeting Russia’s oil and coal would be “particularly” painful for Russia.

“What happened in Bucha demands a new round of sanctions and very clear measures,” Macron told France Inter Radio Monday, noting that there are “very clear indications of war crimes.”

France will be coordinating its measures with its partners in the European Union, most notably Germany, in the coming days, according to Macron. The French leader also said that the EU may impose further sanctions on certain Russian individuals. The bloc has been considering a ban on crude imports from Russia. However, Germany has opposed such a move as it relies on the imports.

However, the backlash from the killings at Bucha may lead the EU to cut off gas dependence on Russia. Russia provides 45 percent of the region’s gas needs, 25 percent of oil imports, and 45 percent of coal imports, according to the European Commission.

In the midst of the war, Ukrainian and Russian negotiators have been engaging in peace talks in Turkey. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the atrocities that Russian forces are leaving behind in Ukraine, especially in Bucha, are making peace talks difficult.

Speaking in Bucha, Zelenskyy condemned the “war crimes” as equal to “genocide.”

“It’s very difficult to talk when you see what they’ve done here,” said Zelenskyy, who is shown wearing body armor and flanked by Ukrainian military personnel. “The longer the Russian Federation drags out the meeting process, the worse it is for them and for this situation and for this war.”