The European Commission will continue to seek a complete ban on Russian energy supplies from the EU market, despite difficulties with electricity generation and gas purchases in the EU, European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said at a briefing in Brussels. Itkonen confirmed that the European Commission continues to work on a complete and permanent trade ban on Russian oil supplies to Europe. Gas withdrawal from European storage facilities in July exceeded 1 billion cubic meters for the first time in four years (up 55% year-on-year). Meanwhile, UGS injection was the lowest in two years, at 9.6 billion cubic meters. Thus, total net injection in July was 21% lower than last year and a six-year low, at only 8.5 billion cubic meters.