TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS has said it would be “utterly despicable” for European countries to resume buying oil from Russia while the war in Ukraine continues.

Speaking in Brussels today, where EU finance ministers were meeting to discuss economic and security issues, Harris said the European Union must remain firm in its sanctions against Moscow.

“Any move by the European Union to start buying Russian oil again while Russia continues its illegal war in Ukraine would be utterly despicable,” Harris said.

Harris added that European countries had taken difficult decisions to reduce their reliance on Russian fossil fuels since the invasion in 2022 and warned against reversing that progress.

“We have taken decisions collectively across Europe to reduce our dependence on Russian energy,” he said.

“Those were the right decisions and they must remain in place.”

Russian oil imports into the EU have fallen dramatically since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

Before 2022, Moscow supplied roughly a quarter of the bloc’s crude imports, but sanctions and a shift to alternative suppliers have sharply reduced that dependence.

The EU has also planned to fully phase out Russian gas imports by January 2028.

Harris’ comments come amid renewed debate within the EU over sanctions, with Hungary repeatedly opposing further restrictions on Russian energy and pushing back against some measures agreed by other member states.

At the same time, US president Donald Trump has suggested he could lift certain sanctions on Russian oil exports as global prices surged following the escalation of conflict with Iran earlier this week.

“We’re also waiving certain oil-related sanctions to reduce prices,” Trump told reporters after a phone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin yesterday.

He also mentioned Chinese president Xi Jinping.

“We have sanctions on some countries, we’re going to take those sanctions off till this straightens out,” Trump added.

Trump did not specify any country or provide details on which sanctions would be lifted.

Oil prices spiked to nearly $120 a barrel yesterday amid fears the conflict could disrupt supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global energy.

However, prices later fell sharply after Trump said the war involving Iran was “very complete, pretty much” and could end soon, easing market concerns about prolonged disruption.

Harris said Europe must remain focused on maintaining pressure on Moscow.

“Russia cannot be allowed to fund its war machine through energy revenues while it continues to violate international law and attack the people of Ukraine,” Harris said.