On Sunday, two months after the decision to ban imports Russian oil from Russia, the EU expands the embargo on Russian diesel And in petrolin the fuel needed for movement.

Escalation sanctions from the EU seeks to strike even harder at the Russian energy sector, cutting it off from the most important market. The sale of oil is necessary for Russia to finance its budget and, ultimately, to finance the war in Ukraine. In short, the West hopes to limit the flow of money to the Kremlin.

“Russia has lost its most important client,” said Fatih Birol, director general of the International Energy Agency. However, the ban on Russian motor fuels creates risks for motorists and truck drivers in Europe, as it could lead to shortages and higher prices for diesel fuel. So far, Europe has dealt effectively with the Russian oil embargo, but the oil ban may not go so smoothly. Diesel prices have already begun to rise. As Mr. Birol noted, “enforcement of this ban could be more difficult.” Diesel is critical to the European economy, as it powers the trucks that carry food and more than 40% of cars in the EU. Last year, about 50% of Europe’s diesel imports came from Russia, at about 700,000 bpd. This amount of fuel is not easy to replace, and in recent weeks European refineries have been preparing for this by stockpiling.

Russia’s war against Ukraine and the reaction of the West to it have led to radical changes in global oil and gas supply routes. The upcoming ban on Russian oil imports is expected to cause a new round of distortions in the energy sector. There will be a changing of the guard among the giants, according to Eddie Gratti, managing director of S&P Global. He predicts that Europe will be forced to import more diesel and other petroleum products from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, as well as from India, China and the US. In short, countries that have a strong oil refining industry. There are indications that this process is already underway, as countries such as France and Germany cut Russian diesel imports and prepare for a “divorce”. Market analysts note that this restructuring will definitely lead to higher prices. What is certain, however, is that when diesel fuel has to cover long distances after loading, larger ships will be required to transport it to Europe, and longer transport times will increase costs. In addition, the problems that Russia will face may prevent it from promoting its fuel. And this means that there will be less diesel fuel on the world market and the supply will be limited, which has been declining for months.