EXPLAINER: Why is Europe balking at a ban on Russian energy?


              FILE - Steam leaves a cooling tower of the Lichterfelde gas-fired power plant in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Shocking pictures from the Ukrainian town of Bucha and accusations of Russian war crimes are building pressure for more sanctions against Moscow, Monday, April 4, 2020. A key potential target: Russian oil and natural gas, and the $850 million that European importers pay for those supplies every day. But it's not so easy, given Europe's dependence on Russian energy. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)
            
              FILE - Operators work at the Enagss regasification plant, the largest LNG plant in Europe, in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. Shocking pictures from the Ukrainian town of Bucha and accusations of Russian war crimes are building pressure for more sanctions against Moscow, Monday, April 4, 2020. A key potential target: Russian oil and natural gas, and the $850 million that European importers pay for those supplies every day. But it's not so easy, given Europe's dependence on Russian energy. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File)
            
              FILE - A car stops in a gas station where prices are up to 2,75 euros per liter (US dlrs. 3.04) in Marseille, southern France, Wednesday, March 9, 2022. Shocking pictures from the Ukrainian town of Bucha and accusations of Russian war crimes are building pressure for more sanctions against Moscow, Monday, April 4, 2020. A key potential target: Russian oil and natural gas, and the $850 million that European importers pay for those supplies every day. But it's not so easy, given Europe's dependence on Russian energy. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)
            
              FILE - Steam leaves a cooling tower of the Lichterfelde gas-fired power plant in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Shocking pictures from the Ukrainian town of Bucha and accusations of Russian war crimes are building pressure for more sanctions against Moscow, Monday, April 4, 2020. A key potential target: Russian oil and natural gas, and the $850 million that European importers pay for those supplies every day. But it's not so easy, given Europe's dependence on Russian energy. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)
            
              FILE - Operators work at the Enagss regasification plant, the largest LNG plant in Europe, in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. Shocking pictures from the Ukrainian town of Bucha and accusations of Russian war crimes are building pressure for more sanctions against Moscow, Monday, April 4, 2020. A key potential target: Russian oil and natural gas, and the $850 million that European importers pay for those supplies every day. But it's not so easy, given Europe's dependence on Russian energy. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File)
            
              FILE - A car stops in a gas station where prices are up to 2,75 euros per liter (US dlrs. 3.04) in Marseille, southern France, Wednesday, March 9, 2022. Shocking pictures from the Ukrainian town of Bucha and accusations of Russian war crimes are building pressure for more sanctions against Moscow, Monday, April 4, 2020. A key potential target: Russian oil and natural gas, and the $850 million that European importers pay for those supplies every day. But it's not so easy, given Europe's dependence on Russian energy. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)
            
              FILE - Steam leaves a cooling tower of the Lichterfelde gas-fired power plant in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Shocking pictures from the Ukrainian town of Bucha and accusations of Russian war crimes are building pressure for more sanctions against Moscow, Monday, April 4, 2020. A key potential target: Russian oil and natural gas, and the $850 million that European importers pay for those supplies every day. But it's not so easy, given Europe's dependence on Russian energy. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)
            
              FILE - Operators work at the Enagss regasification plant, the largest LNG plant in Europe, in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. Shocking pictures from the Ukrainian town of Bucha and accusations of Russian war crimes are building pressure for more sanctions against Moscow, Monday, April 4, 2020. A key potential target: Russian oil and natural gas, and the $850 million that European importers pay for those supplies every day. But it's not so easy, given Europe's dependence on Russian energy. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File)
            
              FILE - A car stops in a gas station where prices are up to 2,75 euros per liter (US dlrs. 3.04) in Marseille, southern France, Wednesday, March 9, 2022. Shocking pictures from the Ukrainian town of Bucha and accusations of Russian war crimes are building pressure for more sanctions against Moscow, Monday, April 4, 2020. A key potential target: Russian oil and natural gas, and the $850 million that European importers pay for those supplies every day. But it's not so easy, given Europe's dependence on Russian energy. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)
            
              Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck speaks on a press conference on the nature-friendly expansion of wind energy in Berlin, Germany, Monday, April 4, 2022. Germany has faced criticism for opposing an immediate halt to Russian energy deliveries. The country says it hopes to end Russian coal imports this summer and oil imports by the end of the year, but halting Russian gas will take longer. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)
            
              FILE - The tanker Sun Arrows loads its cargo of liquefied natural gas from the Sakhalin-2 project in the port of Prigorodnoye, Russia, on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Putin is demanding payment in rubles for natural gas — or else. Germany is talking about gas rationing in case of a cutoff. Prices for the fuel used to heat homes, generate electricity and power industry are through the roof. While Putin has said importers of Russian gas must pay in rubles starting Friday, he's offered what could be seen as a loophole. (AP Photo, File)
EXPLAINER: Why is Europe balking at a ban on Russian energy?