"The European Union relies on Russia for almost half its coal, but new contracts with other countries could ease the transition, which would stretch over four months."

"European leaders, seeking to punish Russia for reports of atrocities carried out in Ukraine, on Thursday approved a ban on Russian coal, the imported energy source that would be the easiest to replace.

Initially expected to arrive on Wednesday but delayed by extended deliberations among European Union officials, the latest round of sanctions from the bloc included a plan for cutting off Russian coal over four months. The original proposal had suggested a shorter, three-month withdrawal.

The slight slowdown in the decision-making process reflected the challenges of reaching agreement among all 27 member nations on the penalties, particularly given that some countries in the bloc are more reliant on Russian energy than others. Sanctions need to be approved by all member states."

Melissa Eddy reports for the New York Times April 6, 2022. [2]