EU Wants Russia's Oil Embargo To Start This May

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press conference in Strasbourg, France, May 9, 2022. ANTARA/Ludovic Marin/Pool via Reuters

JAKARTA - The European Union is still trying to agree a gradual embargo on Russian oil this month despite concerns about supplies in eastern Europe. Four diplomats and officials rejected suggestions of delaying or easing the embargo proposal.

Russia's oil dependence on Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia poses the biggest obstacle to an embargo deal that the European Commission, the EU executive, proposed in early May in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

However, diplomats and officials say they are optimistic about a deal, even as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has struggled to convince Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the most vocal critic of the proposed embargo.

"There will be a deal," said a senior EU diplomat, noting that there is flexibility in the proposed transition and level of investment for Russian oil-dependent countries that need to find other sources of supply.

A second senior diplomat said a deal was possible on Monday 16 May tomorrow morning when EU foreign ministers meet in Brussels, after technical talks are expected over the weekend.

A third diplomat said there was a possibility of a deal this weekend. "

This will be decided at the highest political level, between Budapest and Brussels. I'm optimistic," the diplomat said.

While most EU countries should fully implement the Russian oil embargo by the end of the year, Hungary has obtained exemptions until the end of 2024, as will Slovakia, and the Czech Republic until mid-2024.

In addition to the oil ban, more Russians close to President Vladimir Putin are expected to be subject to sanctions in the same package, the sixth since the start of the Ukraine war, which Moscow calls a "special military operation".

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is expected to call for more economic sanctions, more weapons and more financial support when he joins his European Union counterparts on Monday (16/5/2022).