Petrol and diesel prices soared in the UK including in Europe amid the Ukraine war as UK's RAC motoring group called it "a truly dark day". The Boris Johnson government said the surge was mainly due to the pandemic and the Ukraine war even as the RAC called on the government to slash sales tax on petrol and diesel.

Europe reels under high fuel prices; protests in Poland

The European Union(EU) on Friday declared a ban on most Russian oil imports and cut Russia's bank Sberbank from the global SWIFT messaging system. EU also froze the assets of President Vladimir Putin's alleged girlfriend Alina Kabaeva and put her on visa ban blacklist along with Russian Army officials suspected of war crimes in Ukraine's Bucha.

Ukraine war: EU bans most Russian oil, targets Putin's alleged girlfriend with sanctions

According to reports, the European Commission may spare Slovakia and Hungary from the embargo related to buying Russian oil. Newswire Reuters reported that the European block is considering a ban on buying Russian oil and is set to finalise sanctions against Russia amid the Ukraine war.

EU may allow Slovakia, Hungary to buy Russian oil: Report

Germany's energy firm Uniper on Friday (April 29) said it is ready to meet Russia's payment demand in roubles on gas. Although this payment will not be direct as it will convert euros into roubles, critics believe that it will undermine the sanctions imposed by the European Union on Russia for invading Ukraine.

Ready to meet Russia's payment demand on gas, says Germany's energy firm Uniper