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The EU is divided over whether or not to impose an embargo on Russian oil imports, but unanimously condemned Russia’s decision to cut off immediate gas supplies to Bulgaria and Poland, calling it a breach of contract with the supplier. .
Energy ministers in talks on the crisis in Brussels, trying to come up with a united response to Moscow’s demand that European buyers pay for Russian gas in rubles or otherwise face supply disruptions, said the payment in rubles through a mechanism run by the russian authorities is clearly a violation of EU sanctions and unacceptable to the bloc.
What was noticed from the ministerial meeting was the change in Germany’s stance, which it says could withstand an oil ban by the end of the year, but not a gas ban.
“Germany is ready to impose new sanctions, including a fuel embargo. We have prepared ourselves not to rely on Russian imports. It will take time for us to break free from this addiction. “It will be more difficult to reduce our dependence on Russian gas, but we will continue with small steps until we reach the goal.” Minister Christian Lindner told CNN.
Hungary, meanwhile, has reiterated its opposition to a ban on both fuels. But to keep the bloc united, the Commission is looking at the possibility of offering Hungary and Slovakia an exemption or a long transition period, with the general ban likely to enter phases by the end of the year.
Both Hungary and Slovakia depend heavily on Russian crude oil. Last month, the bloc’s chief diplomat, Borrell, noted that the 1 billion euros sent daily to Russia in the form of energy payments were 35 times the amount the EU had actually donated to Ukraine to help protect it. .
The EU is concerned that its dependence on Russian fossil fuels is inadvertently helping the Kremlin to finance its invasion of Ukraine.
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