The breakthrough came after hours of intensive deliberation, but many important details still need to be filled in later. “Maximum pressure on Russia to end the war,” Michel tweeted before the summit was over. But a bit of the total oil boycott that von der Leyen announced with much fanfare almost a month ago is being taken away.
Hungary and some other Member States with almost total dependence on Russia may continue to purchase Russian oil for the time being, provided it is supplied by pipeline. The boycott will come into effect at the end of this year for oil transported by sea. This is in line with the Commission proposal, which wanted to leave Member States leeway to find replacement suppliers.
The oil boycott was the most contentious part of the sixth and most severe sanctions package against Russia to date. Other measures from this: another three Russian banks, including the important Sberbank, will be cut off from international payment traffic, three Russian state channels will be removed from the European airwaves and (senior) military personnel who were involved in the extremely severe violence against civilians in cities such as Butja be added to the sanctions list. This means that they can no longer travel to Europe and any possessions in Europe will be frozen. The same goes for Orthodox Church leader Patriarch Kirill, who gave Putin his blessing for the war against Ukraine.