German Bundestag in Berlin. File photoBERLIN, Mar 21The German government remains convinced that Germany cannot abandon Russian oil, said German Cabinet spokesman Steffen Hebeshtreit. Reuters, citing sources, claims that the EU countries are working on a fifth package of sanctions against Russia, and are also considering the possibility of imposing an oil embargo regarding Moscow. The press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov, answering the question of how realistic the imposition of such an embargo is and what measures Russia is ready to take in this regard, said that the embargo on the supply of Russian oil would seriously worsen the energy balance in Europe, and the Americans would remain «on their own», such a solution will hit everyone.The embargo on Russian oil will worsen the energy balance in the EU, Peskov said»The government is still convinced that it cannot refuse to import oil from Russia. This is the government's position, according to my information, there are no changes,» Hebeshtreit said at a briefing in Monday, answering the question whether Berlin still rules out the oil embargo from the Russian Federation, despite reports that such a decision is being prepared in the EU. Hebeshtreit also noted that everything related to the events in Ukraine and the EU's reaction to the actions of the Russian Federation will be discussed at a meeting of leaders The European Union in Brussels, and the German Cabinet will not «anticipate» the outcome of these discussions. Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24. President Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years.» For this, according to him, it is planned to carry out «demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine», to bring to justice all war criminals responsible for «bloody crimes against civilians» in Donbass. According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the Armed Forces strike only at the military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops. With the support of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the DPR and LPR groups are developing an offensive. But there is no question of the occupation of Ukraine, the President of Russia emphasized. Earlier, a number of Western countries introduced new sanctions against the Russian Federation because of Ukraine. According to the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, the Western sanctions are very serious, Russia was preparing for them in advance. He added that they require analysis and coordination of departments in order to develop response measures that are in the interests of the Russian Federation.
