Austria gives support to plans for EU embargo on Russian oil

Austria has said it is willing to support an embargo on Russian oil, reversing its opposition to a measure being considered by the EU.

The Austrian Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler said the country was “ready to pull its weight” if the bloc approved a ban on Russian oil.

Austria and Germany have reduced their reliance on oil imported from Russia.

Ms Gewessler said her country had not processed any during March.

Germany has also given its support to an EU oil embargo, but Hungary said yesterday that it would not back the move, which would need to be approved by all 27 member nations.

“Hungary’s stance on oil and gas sanctions on Russia remains unchanged: we do not support them,” said Zoltan Kovacs, a spokesman for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

The EU is preparing for fuel shortages and energy ministers from the bloc’s member states held talks in Brussels yesterday.

The meeting was called after Russia cut off gas imports to Poland and Bulgaria for refusing to pay in roubles, a demand made by Moscow after western powers imposed sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine.

Russia previously supplied about 40 per cent of the EU’s gas and many countries are vulnerable to shortages if they are blacklisted by the Russian supplier Gazprom.

France has asked fellow EU members to explain how they are preparing for a potential energy crisis.

Poland said it had started to receive gas through a pipeline from Lithuania, a supply that will increase this week.

Ministers were also expected to address gas storage after the European Commission proposed setting a minimum level for stocks.