The ban imposed by the European Union on imports of Russian crude oil last June has come into force as of Monday, with limited exceptions.
The ban, which was agreed upon as part of a package of sanctions against Russia, entered into force, for the continuation of its military operation in Ukraine, technically after its adoption but it allowed a transitional period for EU member states to gradually implement the embargo.
Exemptions also apply to Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, which are three EU member states that are particularly dependent on the oil pipeline from Russia, due to their geographical location and inability to quickly replace imports.
The price cap of $60 per barrel on Russian seaborne oil, agreed upon to reduce the Kremlin's revenues from energy exports, has also come into force.
The price limit is linked to a previous decision by the Group of Seven (G7) to impose sanctions on Russian oil exports to the broader global economy.
