The Commission has not yet set a timetable for launching the oil embargo plan in the Member States, but it is believed that they will not share it before the second round of voting in the French presidential election on 24 April. Germany pledged an expanded € 2 billion (67 1.67 billion) in military aid budget on Friday, of which more than € 1 million will go directly to Ukraine. The money, according to the German Tagesschau, can be used to buy military equipment from the US and other countries, although it will be subject to additional clearances if spent in Germany. Meanwhile, the German Economy Minister urged citizens to reduce energy use because it “bothers Putin.” Robert Habeck, of the Greens, said: “As a general rule, I would say we can always save 10 percent. I urge everyone to save energy right now. “If we can ride a bike or take the train at Easter, it’s also good. “It saves your wallet and annoys Putin.” Germany, which depends on Moscow for most of its energy, has pledged to wean itself off Russian fuel imports by mid-2024. It has already reduced its share of gas imports from 55 percent before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 to 40 percent. Fearing that Russian President Vladimir Putin could cut off supplies to Germany, officials have launched emergency plans in anticipation of a gas shortage that could lead to shrinking households and businesses.
