All other EU countries will gradually stop importing Russian oil by the end of this year.
EU proposes to revise embargo on Russian oil and allow Hungary and Slovakia to buy Russian oil by the end of 2024 and the Czech Republic by June 2024, according to Bloomberg, citing sources.
All other EU members are reported to be phasing out imports. oil from Russia by the end of this year, as originally proposed.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has already stated that he opposes the EU's initial proposal to ban Russian oil imports, adding that it is tantamount to a “nuclear bomb” “For the economy of his country. Orban demands a five-year exemption from the ban on Russian oil.
In addition, the EU proposes to introduce a ban on Russian oil transportation services in three months.
It is noted that the EU is negotiating a sixth package of sanctions will continue on Friday, May 6, and will be long and difficult.
Read also: The EU plans to agree on oil sanctions against Russia this week
Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed to EU countries to introduce a ban on imports of crude oil from Russia for six months, and oil products – until the end of 2022.
According to her, the sixth package of EU sanctions against Russia will be aimed at banks, in particular, Sberbank and oil.
The issue of restricting energy exports from Russia has been actively discussed in the EU for several weeks. Read more about this in Mikhail Gonchar's article “Europe in Russia's energy trap: how to overcome dependence?” .
