Poland planning to stop buying Russian oil, gas, coal by yearend - PM

BERLIN. March 30 (Interfax) - Poland is initiating a plan, which aims to abandon Russian hydrocarbons, and intends to implement it by the yearend, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said at a press conference on Wednesday.

"Today, we present the most radical plan in Europe to abandon Russian hydrocarbons - oil, gas and coal. This plan is necessary for the recovery of Europe," the prime minister's office quoted him as saying.

In his words, Poland "will impose a total embargo on Russian coal in April, at the latest in May."

Morawiecki said that Poland had largely reduced its dependence on Russian oil and "will do [its] best to abandon Russian oil by the end of the year."

He added that he was also expecting a decline in gas imports in May. According to mass media, the Polish plan envisages the abandonment of Russian gas imports by the end of 2022.

Morawiecki urged other European nations, including Germany, to follow in Poland's footsteps.

Additionally, Poland urged the European Commission to establish a tax on Russian hydrocarbons.

"I call on the European Commission to establish a tax on Russian hydrocarbons so that trade and economic rules in the European single market are fair," Morawiecki said.