Germany's Baerbock: EU will end Russian fossil fuel imports, starting with coal

The European Union's member states have agreed that they will completely end fossil fuel imports from Russia, starting with coal, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Tuesday, without giving concrete dates.

"The answer to these war crimes now with the fifth sanctions package at the European level must be that we as a European Union must completely phase out fossil energy dependence on Russia, starting with coal, then oil, and then gas," she said.

Asked about Ukraine's request for tanks, she added that the EU's members were open to exporting further weapons systems to Ukraine, including systems they had not previously sent. Ukraine says it needs tanks if it is to push Russia out of its territory rather than just defend existing lines of contact.