Ryan: Further sanctions against Russia to be agreed this week 

Putin was using energy as a weapon, Environment Minister Eamon Ryan said. 'He is looking to divide and conquer'

Eamon Ryan said he wished a total ban could be called on Russian oil by the bloc immediately. File picture: RollingNews.ie

Environment Minister Eamon Ryan said further sanctions on Russian oil and gas would be agreed by the EU in the coming days.

An outright ban on Russian oil could negatively affect a number of European countries who are reliant on the fuel, he said. Putin’s regime shut off Bulgaria and Poland’s access to gas after the countries refused to pay for the fuel in Russian roubles last week, sparking an emergency meeting of ministers in Brussels.