Irish Examiner view: Two steps back with Russian oil ban

Ukrainian demonstrators demand an embargo on Russian oil during a protest in front of EU institutions prior to an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders to discuss Ukraine, energy and food security at the Europa building in Brussels. Picture: AP Photo/Olivier Matthys)

It has been nearly a month since European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced a “complete ban” on Russian oil.

Whatever the terms of the latest cobbled-together deal to preserve an appearance of European unanimity — exemptions, rouble accounts, timetable extensions — we are fast reaching the point where we must acknowledge that sanctions are not doing any sort of job in turning back the Russian juggernaut in the Ukraine and are not likely to do so in the foreseeable future. Military aid has had an impact, although it has been more meaningful from some countries than others. That is where the effort must go.