Russia's invasion of Ukraine EU agrees: Stop Russian oil - with some exceptions

Stop for Russian oil after EU meeting Exceptions for three countries Andersson: "Positively surprised"

Of: 

Hans Österman 

Published: Today 00.52 

Updated: Today 08.31 

NEWS 

Just before midnight, EU countries agreed to stop imports of Russian oil. 

However, some countries were granted a temporary exemption. 

- I am positively surprised that we have come this far, said Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson after the summit. 

The EU's 27 heads of state and government gathered in Brussels on Monday to agree on a sixth sanctions package against Russia. After protracted negotiations, they agreed a few minutes before midnight. 

Among the new measures is Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, being thrown out of the international payment system Swift. In addition, three more state-controlled television channels are blocked from European broadcasts and more Russian representatives are banned from entering and frozen assets, such as the military, which is considered responsible for war crimes in Butja.(krigsbrott i Butja.)

So much oil is stopped 

But the biggest question was about oil. There, the member states agreed to stop the import of Russian crude oil and petroleum products by boat. 

"This immediately covers more than two thirds of Russia's oil imports and removes a large part of the financing of their war machine. It puts maximum pressure on Russia to stop the war ", wrote Council President Charles Michel on Twitter.(på Twitter.)

Council President Charles Michel. Photo: Geert Vanden Wijngaert / AP

In a follow-up tweet, he clarified that 75 percent of European imports will be stopped immediately and that the share will have risen to 90 percent by the end of the year. 

Zelensky started at a distance 

The summit in Brussels began with the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky via video. 

- All quarrels in Europe must end, internal disputes only encourage Russia to put more and more pressure on you. It is time for you to act as a whole, not as separate fragments, he told EU leaders. 

Already three weeks ago, the European Commission presented a draft of new sanctions. 

Ahead of the summit, there was a proposal for a compromise that would allow Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to continue importing Russian oil via the giant Druzhba pipeline. It was built during the Soviet era and runs through war-torn Ukraine. 

Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orbán said at the meeting that the proposal "is not bad", but called for a contingency plan in case the Druzhba leadership "had an accident". In harsh terms, he accused the European Commission of "irresponsible behavior" and of having created a "difficult situation", reports The Guardian. (rapporterar The Guardian.)

The wording that solved the knots 

But the knots were untied at the last moment. The agreement combines the three countries' temporary derogations with a promise that "emergency measures will be introduced to guarantee energy supplies", writes TT. 

It is still unclear when the oil embargo will take effect and how long the exemption will be in place. These issues will be resolved when the EU countries' ambassadors formally nail the agreement on Wednesday. 

- It is important that we now put the details in print as soon as possible so that this can come into force, said Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson to TT after the summit. 

Magdalena Andersson "surprised" 

She was happy and surprised by the agreement and said she did not think the result was watered down. 

 - This is very powerful. That is far more than the majority of Russian oil that will be stopped. I must say that I am pleasantly surprised that we have come this far. This may be the largest sanctions package we have agreed on.

Magdalena Andersson welcomed the decision. Photo: Geert Vanden Wijngaert / AP 

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a press conference that the member states had agreed on "massive investments in renewable energy" to compensate for the loss of Russian oil. 

They also agree on a further nine billion euros - equivalent to more than 94 billion kronor - in support of Ukraine. 

On Tuesday, the summit will continue with talks on the world's food supply and joint defense efforts within the EU.