Joe Biden to hold call with Marcon, Johnson & Scholz; sanctions and oil imports on agenda

US President Joe Biden is scheduled to hold a video conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday amid ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. four-way call will be held to discuss furr coordination on sanctions,  Wall Street Journal reported, quoting Western officials. 

Apart from tuning up sanctions, meeting also comes at a time when  dependency of Europe and West on Russia's oil imports is under discourse. Europe has been largely divided when it comes to its stance on banning billions of dollars worth of oil imports from Russia.

Earlier today, Germany’s Scholz asserted that it was impossible to secure EU's energy needs without Russia. Scholz said, “EU’s energy needs cannot be secured without Russia and its imports. Germany has no plans to suspend m”. In retaliation, Nerland Prime Minister Mark Rutte h remarked that 'unlike Germany' y will reduce ir energy dependency on Russia.

Holding a joint press conference on Monday, Prime ministers of UK, Cana and Nerlands h extensively discussed dependency on Russia for hydro-carbons contending importance of looking for alternate suppliers.  European Union relies on Russia for about 40% of its gas – more than twice as much as Norway, its next-largest import partner. 

"We can't cut Russia overnight in terms of dependency on hydrocarbons but we can accelerate move. We have to look for supplies, substitute supplies. We have to be in coalition with countries who are against Putin's action," said Boris Johnson.

Earlier today, United States h also shared that it may soon introduce a bill for banning oil and energy imports from country. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday said that  US House of Representatives may draft a bill to ban all energy imports from Russia which would furr terminate normal tre relations with Russia as well as with Belarus. 

Russia-Ukraine war: 3rd round of talks underway in Belarus

Meanwhile, talks are underway between Russian-Ukrainian delegations in Belarus.  meeting is third round of discussions between Russia and Ukraine as two countries strive to reach an agreement on a ceasefire and a safe passage corridor for people. In second session of talks, both countries agreed to create safe humanitarian corridors for civilians to exit besieged cities, however, what looked like a breakthrough to evacuate civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha, fell apart quickly. In its third attempt, Russian on Monday, March 7, agreed to a ceasefire in four Ukrainian cities-- Kyiv, Mariupol, Kharkiv, and Sumy.