EU ambassadors are to meet for a round of discussions on the sixth package of sanctions against Russia at midday on Sunday. The decision to postpone Saturday's meeting was announced by France, which currently holds rotating presidency of the European Union. There is no agreement among member states on the proposal to ban all oil imports from Russia by the end of this year.
Unofficial consultations between the European Commission, France and representatives of member states are to continue through to Sunday.
Some EU countries, including Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech republic are seeking a longer transitional period. In 2021, Russian oil constituted nearly 60% of Hungary's imports and 92% of Slovakia's, according to the International Energy Agency as reported by Reuters.
Last Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the measures would not be easy, but "we simply have to work on it. We will make sure that we phase out Russian oil in an orderly fashion, to maximize pressure on Russia, while minimizing the impact on our own economies."
The embargo would enter into force within six months, but Hungary and Slovakia would be able to import oil from Russia until the end of 2024, and the Czech Republic until mid-2024.
Polish deputy Foreign Minister Paweł Jabłoński told media at a briefing on Friday, that Warsaw "didn't like Hungary's stance on sanctions at all". As he told reporters, for Ukraine to win the war, “the key thing is to cut Russia off from money.” This meant “a full embargo on Russian hydrocarbons, including oil,” he said.
He also said that Poland was pushing for the ban “through political talks, diplomatic efforts and appeals to the public."
Source: PAP/IAR