Even as russia has invaded Ukraine, terrorised civilians and flattened Mariupol, the European Union has spent €44bn ($46bn) buying its oil and gas. On April 27th Russia announced that it had stopped supplying gas to Bulgaria and Poland, which had refused its demand to pay in roubles. Because the eu can easily buy oil, but not gas, from elsewhere, Russia is attempting to exploit its point of vulnerability. Russia’s gas is used both to heat homes and to power factories, and among Europe’s big economies Germany and Italy are especially dependent on it. Should Europe levy high tariffs on Russian oil ?

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