LONDON, RAW – Countries around the world are uniting over the need to take concrete steps to cut reliance on Russian oil even if that is difficult for some in Europe, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says.

The UK earlier said it would phase out Russian imports of oil and oil products by the end of 2022 and the United States has announced a ban on such imports over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“(There was agreement on) the need to move beyond dependence on Russian oil and gas as we go forward, even though it’s incredibly difficult for some European countries… What we’re doing is making the first step,” Johnson said after meeting leaders from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.

“This is a big step that the world is taking… The level of disgust and outrage at what is happening in Ukraine is mounting around the world and the noose is tightening on the (Russian President Vladimir) Putin regime.”