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European Union leaders have agreed on a plan to block more than two-thirds of Russian oil imports.
The ban is a compromise because it does not affect pipeline imports, for now, due to Hungarian objections. European Council President Charles Michel has said the deal cuts off “a major source of funding” for Russia’s war machine. It is part of the sixth package of sanctions, which was approved at a summit in Brussels between the 27 member states on May 30th.
Michel has said that the EU has also agreed on measures targeting Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, as well as three state-owned broadcasters. The leaders of the member states have spent several hours trying to reduce differences in attitudes towards the ban on Russian oil imports.
The compromise was reached after several weeks of discussions, until an agreement was reached to have a “temporary exemption for oil going to the EU through pipelines,” Michel told reporters. Because of the decision, the sanctions will only affect Russian oil arriving in the EU by sea – or two-thirds of the total imported from Russia.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has said the ban could be even higher, as Germany and Poland have expressed readiness to halt their pipeline imports by the end of the year.
“What remains is about 10-11 percent, which is covered by Druzhba in the south,” von der Leyen said, referring to the Russian pipeline that sends oil to Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
The European Council will also discuss this exemption “as soon as possible,” she added.
The ban on Russian oil imports was proposed by the European Commission a month ago.
But resistance, mainly from Hungary, which imports 65 percent of its oil from Russia through pipelines, has held hostage the new round of sanctions.
Other countries, such as Slovakia and the Czech Republic, have also demanded more time because of their dependence on Russian oil.
Bulgaria, which has been cut off from gas by Russia’s state-owned company Gazprom, has sought other options.
Even the crisis due to the cost of living in Europe has not helped this situation.
The huge rise in energy prices – among other things – has made states reluctant to impose new sanctions, amid concerns that they could hurt their economies.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has taken a hard line on sanctions talks, blaming the European Commission for not negotiating properly with member states over the ban.
He said energy was a “serious issue” and that “we need solutions and then sanctions”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who addressed the EU leaders via video link, has called on European bloc countries to avoid quarrels with each other, because in that way they help Moscow. “All quarrels in Europe must stop, because they will encourage Russia to put more pressure on you,” Zelensky said. “It is not the time to be divided, but united,” he added.
The Prime Minister of Latvia, Krisjanis Karins, has said that member states should not be hindered by personal interests. “It will cost us more. But they are only money. “Ukrainians are paying for this situation with their lives,” he said
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