Embargo on Russian oil to deeply affect global oil market: Kremlin

MOSCOW

A potential EU embargo on Russian oil supplies will seriously affect the global oil market and harm Europe's energy balance, the Kremlin said on Monday.

"This topic is very complicated, because such an embargo will affect, and will affect very seriously, the global oil market in general," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a daily briefing in Moscow.

Only the US is more or less secure against the risks of such an embargo, while the EU and the rest of the world could face difficulties, added Peskov.

"Americans will remain with their own -- this is obvious -- and will feel much better than the Europeans. The Europeans will have a hard time. Probably, this is a decision that will affect everyone," he said.

EU officials gathered on Monday in Brussels to discuss a fifth package of sanctions against Russia since the war between it and Ukraine began last month.

Ahead of the meeting, representatives of the Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania said they would insist on an embargo against Russian oil.

Pressure on Kyiv for humanitarian corridors

Turning to the situation in Ukraine, Peskov said Russia would not declare a unilateral cease-fire because "nationalists use this time to regroup and to reinforce positions."

"This has happened repeatedly and, of course, it complicates the process," he said.

Welcoming the efforts of countries trying to help secure a settlement between Russia and Ukraine, he warned of the consequences for others that he said advocated interference in the war.

If they have any, countries should use their influence over Kyiv to make it "more compliant, more constructive in these negotiations," he said.

The spokesman urged international humanitarian organizations, in particular, to pressure Ukrainian officials on the issue of opening humanitarian corridors.

"Humanitarian corridors are being organized. And the statement that no one is allowed to leave the surrounded cities is a lie, an absolute lie. There are humanitarian corridors. They are provided by our military," said Peskov, accusing Ukrainian "nationalists" of barring residents from using these routes.

"Therefore, it would be reasonable to put pressure on the Kyiv authorities so that they somehow try to influence these nationalists so that they do not hide behind people as a shield," he said.

On the possibility of a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Peskov said there had been no agreements that the two leaders could seal.

He also regretted what he called the persecution of Russians and anything linked with Russians abroad due to Russia's war on Ukraine, which started on Feb. 24 and has drawn international condemnation, leading to financial restrictions on Moscow and spurring an exodus of global firms from Russia.

At least 900 civilians have been killed and 1,459 injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, said the UN, noting conditions on the ground make it difficult to verify the exact number.

More than 3.32 million people have also fled to neighboring countries, said the UN refugee agency.