“European Union countries are likely to approve a phased embargo on Russian oil as early as next week,” according to The New York Times, citing officials.
A meeting of permanent representatives of the member states of the union is scheduled for May 4.
The final decision can be made before the end of the week.
Earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed the opinion that an embargo on gas from Russia would have serious consequences for Germany and Europe.
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder stressed that after the end of the special operation in Ukraine, "we will have to interact with Russia again."