EU energy ministers discuss possible disruption to Russian supplies

European Union energy ministers will meet today, Monday, in Brussels, to discuss the repercussions of the Ukrainian war on energy supplies in the European Union.

A statement before the meeting stated that the ministers would assess the additional measures that must be taken to secure adequate supplies of gas, and to transport it in the coming weeks and months.

The statement indicated that the meeting will discuss the possibilities of supply disruptions, and the measures that must be taken in this case.

The Russian company, "Gazprom", announced last week that it would stop its gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria, on the condition that they pay in Russian rubles to continue supplying.

Two EU diplomats said earlier that the bloc was inclined to impose a ban on Russian oil imports by the end of this year, as part of the sixth package of sanctions imposed on Russia since its invasion of Ukraine.

 Differing positions

European Union member states have diverged positions on imposing sanctions or banning Russian energy supplies, such as oil and gas.

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said that Berlin would be able to bypass the repercussions of a ban on Russian oil imports, although it could cause supply shortages.

The German minister added that Russian oil now represents 12% of the total oil imports, down from 35% before the Russian war on Ukraine, pointing out that most of it goes to the Schwedet refinery near Berlin.

He added that the issue of the oil embargo will be discussed at a meeting of European Union energy ministers in Brussels, which India will also attend.

Hungary said it would not agree to such a ban, and hinted that it might veto such a measure.

For their part, European Commission officials said that Hungary and Slovakia may be granted an exception to the Russian oil embargo, as they mainly depend on it.

Russia provides 96% of Hungary's total imports of oil and its derivatives, while the proportion reaches nearly 60% in Slovakia.

In 2021, the European Union imported from Russia 30% of its purchases of crude oil and 15% of its purchases of oil derivatives.