EU members wrangle over plan to ban Kremlin’s oil

BRUSSELS: Diplomats from European countries were locked in difficult negotiations yesterday to agree on a new package of sanctions against Russia, with Hungary opposed to a ban on Russian oil imports.

Brussels wants to introduce a sixth raft of sanctions against Moscow to increase the cost of its invasion of Ukraine and wean Europe’s economy off a dependence on Russian energy supplies.

But Hungary and Slovakia, landlocked and dependent on crude from a Russian pipeline, are resisting the oil embargo and holding up the approval of the package.

“It’s not easy to establish unity,” admitted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, addressing a policy conference organised by the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

“The countries that are now hesitating are not yet ready. We are sitting together with these countries in Brussels to work out pragmatic things, such as getting alternative oil to these countries.

“I am confident we will get this package on its way, if it takes a day longer, then it will take a day longer.”

But Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared the oil ban would cross a “red line” for Budapest.

“The European Commission president, intentionally or unintentionally, has attacked the European unity that had been worked out,” he told state radio.

Diplomats in Brussels thought that a compromise could be found, but warned that Mr Orban was using the May 9 Europe Day, celebrating the genesis of the EU, as a lever.

Monday will also be celebrated with great pomp in Russia, when it holds its Victory Day commemorating its World War II triumph over the Nazis.

For the sanctions to go into effect, all 27 EU members must give their unanimous approval.

The plan would halt Russian crude oil imports into the European Union within six months and refined oil products by the end of the year.