The European Commission has proposed bans on Russian ships and coal following allegations of war crimes in Ukraine. 

After the liberation of the city of Bucha by Ukrainian forces, officials found 280 bodies in a mass grave, while over a dozen corpses had been left in the street by Russian forces. 

The remains of a Russian Army armoured column in Bucha, Ukraine.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin told Newstalk that further sanctions would be needed, “given the appalling and barbaric crimes committed.”

This would be the fifth round of EU sanctions and if approved by EU member states then Russian coal will be banned from the bloc, most Russian ships will be forbidden from docking in EU ports and Russian companies will be barred from applying for contracts in the EU. 

'Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country'

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also said the bloc was considering proposals to ban the sale of Russian oil. 

Former US Presidential candidate John McCain once quipped that, “Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country” and efforts to completely ban Russian fossil fuels have been stalled by member states concerned about the impact on energy bills.

After Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Berlin cancelled the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline between the two nations but Germany still imports 55% of its gas from Russia. 

Construction of the Nord Stream pipeline from Russia to Europe under the Baltic Sea was officially launched near near Vyborg city of Leningrad region.

Berlin has warned that a total embargo could trigger a recession and a surge in both unemployment and fuel poverty. However, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock maintains, "If it would stop the war, then we would do it immediately.” 

The EU’s official plan is to slash its consumption of Russian gas by two thirds by the end of the year and eliminate its use entirely by 2030.

Main image: Coal in Russia's Chukotka autonomous district. Picture by: Alamy.com