The group of seven most influential Western countries, G7, and Australia, as well as the EU, have set a price cap of $60 per barrel for Russian oil transported by sea. The G7 said the oil price cap would come into effect on December 5th.
“The coalition of countries adopting an oil price cap may also consider other measures to ensure the effectiveness of the price cap,” the statement said.
The price cap aims to reduce Russia’s oil revenues while preventing a rise in global oil prices after an EU embargo on Russian crude came into effect on December 5. Criticism of the decision came from Ukraine, where the price cap is not low enough. It should be halved to $30 a barrel (159 liters), President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak writes on Telegram. “It can destroy the enemy’s economy faster.”
At the same time, he welcomed the fact that the group of seven leading industrial nations (G7) and Australia had decided on this price cap for oil transport by sea. Russia sees this as a violation of the laws of the free market. “We always achieve our goal, and Russia’s economy will still be destroyed. And Russia itself will pay and be responsible for crimes,” Yermak wrote.
The G7 decision followed an agreement by EU countries on a price cap of $60 a barrel for Russian oil. This should be formally confirmed at the weekend.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the price cap will significantly reduce Russia’s revenues. “It will help us stabilize global energy prices. This will benefit emerging markets around the world,” von der Leyen wrote on Twitter on Friday evening.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen welcomed the price cap in a statement. “With Russia’s economy already shrinking and the budget tightening, the price cap will immediately cut into Putin’s main source of income.”
The head of the foreign affairs committee of the Russian lower house told the TASS news agency on Friday that the European Union is endangering its own energy security by introducing the oil price cap.