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The United States is considering a plan to independently pursue an embargo on Russian crude oil.

We are looking at even a super-strong sanctions card that can tighten the money chain of Russian President Putin, but Europe, which is highly dependent on Russian energy, is not willing to respond.



Correspondent Yunsu Kim from Washington.



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US President Biden held emergency videoconferences with leaders of France, Germany and Britain.



He's there to discuss one of the toughest sanctions, the embargo on Russian oil.



The calculation is that if Russia, the world's second-largest oil producer, blocks oil export routes, it is highly likely that Putin's money supply will also be blocked.



[Jen Saki / White House Press Secretary: A decision has not yet been made on the embargo on Russian crude oil.

We are reviewing it internally, and we are negotiating with allies, etc.]



Europe is not willing to respond to Russia's energy sanctions.



This is because it is not easy to find alternatives because the EU is highly dependent on Russia for energy, with oil and gas accounting for 70% of Russia's annual imports.



[Von der Leyenne/Chairman of the European Commission: A strong strategy is needed to eliminate dependence on Russian fossil fuels.

The European Union is discussing a strategic approach to this.] The



US is considering starting its own sanctions for once.



It is said that they are also considering easing the Venezuelan oil embargo to replace Russian oil imports.



The U.S. House of Representatives has decided to pass a bill that would ban Russian energy imports and increase tariffs on Russian and Belarusian products.