(9 Mar 2022) The Dutch prime minister described Russian leader Vladimir Putin as "cold-hearted, brutal, merciless" in Paris on Wednesday, but said it was "not possible" for Europe to immediately ban oil and gas imports from the country.
During a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Mark Rutte again called for an end to the invasion of Ukraine and the "unnecessary bloodshed."
However, Rutte expressed opposition to an immediate European embargo on Russian oil and gas, telling reporters outside the Elysee Palace that it was "the uncomfortable truth" that "we need the supply."
"But we can do more to get the green agenda going, to decarbonize our economies," he added, stressing the importance of Europe "sticking together."
The bilateral meeting comes ahead of a two-day summit of European Union leaders at Versailles, just outside Paris, starting Thursday, where Ukraine will be the dominant issue on the agenda.
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