Member States discuss embargo on Russian oil | Inland

Ministers will discuss next steps on sanctions, Josep Borrell, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Policy, confirmed on his arrival.

As is well known, Germany, Austria and Hungary are opposed to an embargo on Russian oil. Last week, Commission chair Ursula von der Leyen indicated that the European Commission is working on additional sanctions, including those related to oil imports. “Sooner or later, measures on oil or even gas will be necessary,” Council President Charles Michel added.

Borrell, who visited Kiev with von der Leyen last week, has proposed adding EUR 500 million to the EUR 1 billion envelope already mobilized by the EU to help member states supply arms and other military equipment to Ukraine. He believes that the war will be won or lost on the ground. Rather, in previous statements, Borrell made it clear that sanctions against Russia could herald the end of the war. “I fear that the war in the Donbass will intensify in the coming days,” said the Spaniard.

“We must realize that the war in Ukraine will increase in brutality,” said Austrian minister Alexander Schallenberg, whose chancellor Karl Nehammer was due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in Moscow. “We must not miss the slightest opportunity to make it clear to him that he is isolating Russia and that morally he cannot win this war, that he has actually already lost it.”

The decision for that trip came after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as leaders such as von der Leyen, Michel, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “But it’s not happening under EU mandate,” Schallenberg said. “Do we expect miracles? No, but you should not miss any opportunities.”

German minister Annalena Baerbock supports the principle of additional military support to Ukraine, but her country continues to attract international criticism for its reluctance to accelerate the phasing out of Europe’s dependence on Russian energy sources. Baerbock reiterated Germany’s commitment to eventually become independent from gas, oil and coal, but also urged a coordinated European plan.