Hungary delays EU sanctions against Russia

At a summit, EU countries discuss further strategy in the Ukraine conflict – and agree on a compromise on the oil embargo against Russia.

+++ 11.20 pm: According to the Agency France-Press (afp) report, the planned EU sanctions package and partial oil embargo against Russia failed to pass on Wednesday (June 1). According to EU diplomats, Hungary has delayed detailed talks. According to reports, Hungary wanted Sanctions against Russian Orthodox patriot Cyril Do not load.

The ambassadors of the 27 member states met and clarified the legal details of the sanctions. Apart from the Patriots, 60 people close to the Kremlin are on the embargo list. In addition, according to afp, three other Russian banks are to be exempted from the Swift payment system.

“Hot debate” over Putin’s calls: Estonian head of government details EU summit

Updated Wednesday, June 1, 12:00 PM: There were heated discussions with Vladimir Putin at the EU summit about the extent of the phone calls and what should be done. Estonia’s Prime Minister Gaja Gallus explained on television: “We had a heated discussion about calling Putin.” He expressed his opinion about the so-called “benefits” of phone calls. Ukraine war. Gallos has repeatedly criticized talks with Putin.

President Scholes has spoken with Putin on several occasions since the start of the Russian invasion. The most recent phone call took place on Saturday (May 28). Prior to that, there had been radio silence between Berlin and Moscow for several weeks.

+++ 11pm: The energy dispute between Russia and the European Union continues to escalate. While the Russian energy company Gazprom had earlier announced that it would stop supply to the Dutch utility Gasterra, two more are now following in the footsteps of afp writing. From Wednesday (June 1), the Russian side will shut off the gas pipeline for the Danish company Arstad and the British-Dutch group Shell.

The reason is that companies refuse to pay in rubles. Due to EU sanctions against Russia, Vladimir Putin demanded that the money be paid in rubles from “friendly” countries. Demand has not been met in most EU countries as contracts have ended in dollars and euros. Earlier, Russia suspended deliveries to Finland, Bulgaria and Poland.

Oil embargo against Russia: Orban talks about a “frustrated atomic bomb.”

+++ 1pm: Families can sleep peacefully tonight, “Victor Orban declared:” We have blocked the idea of ​​growing too much hair. “Immediately after the compromise on the oil embargo against Russia, the Hungarian Prime Minister commented on Facebook. We have reached an agreement. “

During the talks, there was tremendous opposition from the Hungarian government. Orban said in his message that the total import ban on Russian oil was “unacceptable” to Hungary and “nuclear-like”. “But we were able to prevent it.” President Olaf Scholes (SPD) spoke of “severe” sanctions against Russia. However, key criticisms of his policy on the Ukraine conflict have now re-emerged.

+++ 10.30 am: Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk described the compromise on the oil embargo against Russia as a “half step”. Melnyk spoke with Deutschlandfunk after the joint conclusion of the EU summit. Even with the decision taken, the supply of Russian oil is still possible, the Ukrainian ambassador complained.

In this way, Vladimir Putin continues to receive millions of euros from Europe to fund Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Melnik said. For example, the Russian president pays four times as much to recruit mercenaries for the Ukraine war. That is the Russian strategy of making up for the huge losses. Melnyk stressed the need for an immediate, full-scale oil embargo to stop Putin.

Tuesday, May 31, 12:30 am First update: EU leaders have agreed to impose an oil embargo on most oil imports from Russia. EU Council President Charles Michel said in Brussels on Monday evening (May 30) that the decision would cover “two-thirds of oil imports from Russia” by the end of this year. The European Union (EU) is cutting off the Kremlin “from a major source of funding for its war machine,” he said in a statement.

+++ 8.30pm: Plans for a full European oil embargo against Russia due to the siege of Hungary are not currently on the table. At a summit in Brussels on Monday evening, it became clear that 27 EU countries would only agree to a limited embargo on Russian oil imports. Accordingly, distribution by sea only will be prevented. However, purchases via pipeline are still possible. The large Trushpa pipeline to Hungary could be continuously distributed via land.

The EU Commission, under its chairman Ursula von der Leyen, proposed the compromise shortly before the summit in view of the previous siege from Budapest. Hungary’s right – wing government leader Victor Orban welcomed this, but put forward new demands. The European Union has already imposed massive sanctions on Russia over Ukraine’s war, which has been raging for more than three months. The Europeans are trying to present a united front to Moscow.

EU summit: Hungary blocks full oil embargo

President Olaf Scholes (SPD) commented on recent developments: “Everything I ask seems to be consensus. At the same time, he made it clear that Germany, like Poland, does not want to benefit from the exception to the pipeline. They were hopeful that a compromise could be reached, according to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rudd, who said that despite the exemption, the embargo would help the EU cut Russian oil sales by 90 percent.

Hungarian Prime Minister Arban described the compromise proposal as a good approach – but at the same time put forward new demands. For example, he demanded a guarantee if he could no longer supply pipeline oil to his country due to an accident. Then Hungary should have the right to get oil by sea. In addition, Hungary demanded financial responsibility for transforming its oil infrastructure. The government in Budapest has put the cost of converting refineries into non-Russian oil up to 550 million euros. In addition, $ 200 million is to be invested to supply the country in the future via a pipeline starting on the Adriatic coast.

EU summit: Controversy over oil embargo against Russia – Hungary backs reconciliation

First Report Monday, May 30, 9:28 AM: Brussels – The EU summit in Brussels on Monday (May 30) may be overshadowed by controversy over the EU oil embargo on Russia. According to the German Press Agency, the government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Sunday (May 29) blocked an agreement on a new compromise proposal, the approval of which depends on the financial obligations of the European Union. Countries such as the Netherlands also criticized the compromise proposal.

To resolve the siege that has been going on for several weeks in Hungary, the European Commission has allowed a gradual halt to the importation of oil that was previously shipped. Hungary, which relies heavily on Russian energy sources, can continue to get oil from the huge Trushpa pipeline. Russia Take care.

Refinery in Slovakia and the Czech Republic and in Poland and East Germany are also connected by pipeline. There is Germany and Poland However, it has already been made clear that they will become independent of Russian oil supplies by the end of this year, regardless of the embargo. To. Prior to that, the oil ban should not be complete anyway.

EU summit: Fear of asymmetrical conditions related to oil exports from Russia

According to EU sources, the financial obligations now being sought from Hungary are primarily on funding that the country wants for its medium-term transformation of its oil infrastructure. The government in Budapest estimates the cost of converting refineries to non-Russian oil is up to 550 million euros. In addition, according to reports, 200 million euros will have to be invested to supply the country in the future via a pipeline starting on the Adriatic coast.

However, according to diplomats, the Netherlands has significant problems with the compromise plan. They fear that if some states continue to buy relatively cheap pipeline oil from Russia, there will be a random playground in the EU. This is also appropriate as the port of Rotterdam has so far been an important transshipment point for Russian oil and trade may initially fall as a result of the embargo.

The original proposal of the European Commission was presented Ukraine war The Russia suspends crude oil imports in six months, suspends oil imports in eight months. 20 months should be given only to Hungary and Slovakia.

EU Summit: Emergency Solutions Without Hungary?

Of CSUIn the wake of the debate, European politician Manfred Weber spoke out against pro-Hungarian compromises. “To be honest, I’m tired of the fact that the whole EU must always follow very reluctant decisions when it comes to sanctions,” said the chairman of the Christian Democratic EPP group of the German Press Agency. If Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban against the Russian President Vladimir Putin Necessary unity, inter-state solutions without Hungary must be sought.

“If there is no other way, this route should not be rejected,” Weber said, referring to the desire to agree to an oil embargo without including Hungary. Orban must show that it cannot hold the other EU hostage.

According to EU diplomats at EU consultations on Sunday, Germany was basically ready to agree to the commission’s compromise proposal. At the same time, the federal government made it clear that the exemptions were not really in their interest. (AFP / dpa with tk / tu / lm)