Russian oil ban top of EU agenda

European Union ambassadors are meeting in Brussels to discuss a ban on Russian oil imports, an issue that will be top of the agenda of a leaders’ summit later today.

Hungary, which is heavily dependent on Russian supplies, has continued to oppose such a move and has likened the potential measure to dropping a nuclear bomb on its economy.

But EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told broadcaster France Info earlier: “I think that this afternoon, we will be able to offer to the heads of the member states an agreement.”

Various compromises have been discussed; the latest is to target seaborne supplies first and leave pipeline oil until later.

Technical talks have resumed but some diplomats are doubtful there’ll be a breakthrough in time for the leaders’ summit which starts this afternoon.

The impasse paves the way for potentially heated exchanges later with more hard-line member states, such as Poland, likely to voice frustration at the delay in approving the bloc’s sixth package of sanctions against Russia.

Source: BBC