Summit: Agreement on Russian oil embargo ruled out

LAST UPDATE 17:45

European Union leaders are not expected to reach an agreement on imposing a ban on Russian oil imports, as indicated in statements made at the Brussels Summit, pointing out significant distances that have not yet been bridged.

According to a Reuters report, the draft agreement of the Summit for the time being includes an agreement on the principle of imposing a European embargo on Russian oil, but leaves specific decisions for later as the leaders are not able to agree on all the details.

“We have not reached this point yet,” said the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyenadding, however, that “I’m sure there will be a chance later.”

Once again, Hungary has taken a hard line with the country’s prime minister Victor Orban to state that the Commission proposal to exclude imports of crude oil through sanctions is a good solution, but that there is still no compromise on the issue.

He added that Hungary also needs it guarantees that it could buy oil by sea, in case Russian shipments through the Druzhba pipeline are interrupted.

“This is a problem for us and the reason we have to fight today is that if something happens to Russian oil coming through a pipeline … if there is no oil coming, then we should have the right to buy by sea.” , said V. Orban. “This is the guarantee we need.”

Earlier today, the Bulgarian Prime Minister Kirill Petkov had argued in view of the opening of the Summit that the Member States of the European Union would be able to reach an agreement banning the import of Russian oil under certain conditions.

“I think it will pass with some deviations,” Petkov said of the embargo plan.

He clarified that “overall it should pass, based on certain individual characteristics and criteria it may have for member states”.

However, the Prime Minister of Estonia Kayia Kalas did not share Kirill Petkov’s optimism, estimating that EU member states are unlikely to reach a full agreement on new sanctions against Russia.

“I do not think we will reach an agreement today,” Kalas said, adding that this is more likely to happen at the next summit in June.

On the contrary, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bethel “We will always find compromises. The talks are continuing. As long as there are talks, I am optimistic.”

For his part, the German chancellor Olaf Solts He refrained from taking a position at the summit, saying he expected the EU to reach an agreement but did not set a timetable.

“From what I hear, it looks like there could be a consensus. And sooner or later there will be a consensus,” Soltz told reporters.

In the same vein, the Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Cro He pointed out that “decisions are not easy”, adding that “I have no doubt that decisions will be made in the coming days, in the coming weeks”.

On the contrary, the President of France appeared more optimistic Emanuel Macronwho came and stated that “we are heading towards an agreement for a sixth package of sanctions”.

In this climate, given that decision-making requires unanimity from EU leaders, the reservations that have been expressed so far show that it is difficult for the current Summit to reach a decision.

The draft conclusions of the meeting held by Reuters state that “The European Council agrees that the sixth package of sanctions against Russia will cover crude oil, as petroleum products delivered from Russia to the Member States, on a temporary basis. with the exception of crude oil delivered by pipelines “.

According to the agency, supplies of Russian crude arriving via pipelines to Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic are expected to be included in the sanctions at a later stage.