The European Union (EU) discussed a draft amendment to sanctions against Russia, including an embargo on Russian oil, at an ambassador-level meeting held on the 29th prior to the summit, but no agreement was reached. Discussions will continue within the week.
The amendment was aimed at ensuring the supply of Russian oil to Hungary, but the country has not changed its stance of refusal, according to people familiar with the matter. The ambassador-level meeting is scheduled to resume on the morning of the 30th, but sanctions may be one of the main agenda items at the summit meeting, which will be held from the 30th to the 2nd day, as consensus building has not yet been successful. One EU official said the deal was still possible within a few days.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive body, will ban oil imports by sea from Russia by early next year, while enforcing restrictions on crude oil imports via the Doljiba pipeline, which Hungary mainly uses. He presented each country with a plan to delay it over the weekend. Several officials said the negotiations were undisclosed, subject to anonymity.
Work to lay the Dorjiba oil pipeline near Samara, Russia (May 14, 2019)
Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg
Hungary has indicated its intention to support pipeline transportation as an exception. Two officials said Hungary is now demanding more concessions.
The implementation of EU sanctions requires the consent of all member countries.
Russia’s Crude Exports
Allowing countries on the southern Druzhba to cut Russian imports slowly won’t derail sanctions
Source: Transneft
news-rsf-original-reference paywall">Original title:
news-rsf-original-reference paywall">EU Nations Yet to Break Stalemate Over Russian Oil Embargo（抜粋）
/cloudfront-ap-northeast-1.images.arcpublishing.com/chosun/TPZKF3EHHRPLFODXGYC7X5RC3A.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1)
