Despite numerous consultations and a meeting of Member States’ ambassadors to the EU, on Sunday 8 May, no agreement has yet to be reached on the sixth package of sanctions against Russia. The issue of the oil embargo is still blocked.
According to an EU source, while “very good progress” has been made on most of the measures, Member States still need to finalise the necessary guarantees for oil supplies to those Member States that are linked only to a Russian pipeline.
“Contacts at all levels are continuing at the beginning of the week with the aim of reaching a full agreement on this 6th package as soon as possible”, a source said on 8 May, adding that the EU Council was united on the need to adopt a 6th sanctions package.
On Monday 9 May, the Commission and the European External Action Service continued to work on the technical issues raised in recent days. One source said that a new meeting of Member States’ ambassadors would only be organised if there was progress, while another recalled that a regular meeting of ambassadors was scheduled for Wednesday 11 May and that the subject of sanctions is expected to be addressed there.
On Monday afternoon, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, visited Budapest to discuss issues related to European security of energy supply with the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán. Earlier in the day, the Hungarian Foreign Minister had again publicly expressed his country’s opposition to an oil embargo. “Hungary will not vote in favour of the European Commission’s initiative on sanctions against Russia, as it poses a problem for Hungary and does not contain a proposed solution. The proposal is like an atomic bomb for the Hungarian economy and would destroy our stable energy supply”, Péter Szijjártó stressed.
The Ukrainian Prime Minister, Denys Shmyhal, supported the sixth package of sanctions but called on the EU to go further and take action on gas trade.
G7 calls for action on Russian oil
On Sunday 8 May, the leaders of the G7 countries pledged to adopt measures on Russian oil.
In a joint statement, they collectively committed to further steps, including the gradual elimination of dependence on Russian energy, “including by phasing out or banning the import of Russian oil”. “We will ensure that we do so in a timely and orderly fashion, and in ways that provide time for the world to secure alternative supplies”, the leaders said.
The leaders also intend to take measures against Russian banks “connected to the global economy and systemically critical to the Russian financial system” and measures to ban or prevent the “provision of key services” on which Russia depends, without specifying which sectors.
In addition, the leaders intend to continue their efforts to combat the Russian regime’s attempts to spread its propaganda. “Respectable private companies should not provide revenue to the Russian regime or to its affiliates feeding the Russian war machine”, warns the G7.
Finally, the G7 countries announce that they will continue and intensify their campaign against the financial elites and their family members who support President Putin in the war effort and who “squander the resources of the Russian people”.
The G7 leaders state that “the actions of the Russian President bring shame on Russia”.
The G7 will also strengthen its support for Ukraine. “We will pursue our ongoing military and defence assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, continue supporting Ukraine in defending its networks against cyber incidents, and expand our cooperation, including on information security. We will continue to support Ukraine in increasing its economic and energy security”, details the statement.
The G7 countries also pledged “in the coming weeks” to step up their collective short-term financial support to help Kyiv close financing gaps and provide basic services to its population “while also developing options – working with the Ukrainian authorities and international financial institutions – to support long-term recovery and reconstruction”.
The G7 also states that it will redouble its efforts to help Ukraine continue production for the next harvest season and exports, including through alternative trade routes.
See the statement: https://aeur.eu/f/1k3
Charles Michel in Odessa
For his part, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, visited Odessa, in Ukraine, on Monday 9 May, to celebrate Europe Day. In particular, he visited the port of Odessa where tons of grain are blocked due to the Russian blockade in the Black Sea.
He held talks with Mr Shmyhal and in a video conference with the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, on how the EU can continue to help Ukraine address the humanitarian, economic and military challenges it currently faces, including through the Ukrainian Solidarity Fund which will finance Ukraine’s future reconstruction, according to an EU source.
“Our support will be maximised, both in terms of military equipment - you need it and we will provide you with as much as we can - and financial support”, Mr Michel stressed, recalling also that Ukraine had applied for EU membership. On 9 May, Ukraine submitted the second part of its questionnaire, a document necessary for the European Commission to prepare its opinion on Ukraine’s application for EU membership. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)