“Coal remains an in-demand good. Coal deliveries will be diverted to other markets depending on how Europe reduces its consumption,’’ Russian government spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told news agency Interfax.
The 27 EU states gave their backing earlier on Thursday to the fifth round of sanctions targeting Russia, including an import ban on coal, wood, and vodka, Japan announced a similar ban on Friday.
However, the latest sanctions came after evidence emerged that the Russian army committed a massacre of hundreds of civilians in Bucha, a town outside the capital, sparking calls for war crimes probes.
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Meanwhile, top EU officials have said a total fossil fuel import ban could eventually follow if Russia keeps up its assault on its neighbor.
