This is CBSI on the world.

I'm John Batchel.

Sanctions regime on Russia for its aggression and conduct in Ukraine.

Brussels, Reuters reporting,

the European Commission did not propose a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas in its latest package of sanctions

because member states raised concerns about first securing alternatives, including from the U.S.

First, you have to have a deal because otherwise you'll be left without gas from Russia and without the U.S.,

one of the diplomats complained.

I welcome Michael Bernstam of the Hoover Institution, who's been following the regime's,

the Russian regime's sanctions for, well, since the beginning of the war, since before the

beginning of the war.

And heretofore, I've assumed that Europe was part of the resistance to Russia's

aggression. It gave up Russian energy, oil, and gas. And there were some delays in giving up the gas

because of the criticality of wintertime, but that they were on board with not buying from Russia.

Money that goes to Russia, goes to the budget, goes to sustaining the war.

And yet, Michael, a very good evening to you.

Suddenly, the European Commission is not banning liquefied natural gas.

Why not?

What took them so long to not do it?

The European Commission considered it, and they found out that they cannot do it, because

the Russian liquefied natural gas is very important for Europe. Spain, France, the Netherlands,

and Belgium are four major importers of Russian natural gas,

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