EU Embargoes 90 Percent Russian Oil, Moscow Diplomat: We'll Look For Other Importers

Illustration of a Russian oil tanker carriage. (Wikimedia Commons/sergejf)

JAKARTA - Russia is not worried about the embargo imposed by the European Union on their oil, believing that there are other importing countries outside the 27-nation alliance.

Russia's Permanent Representative to international organizations in Vienna, Austria Mikhail Ulyanov said Russia would look for other importers related to the sixth package of EU sanctions against Moscow.

"As he said yesterday, Russia will find another importer. It is noteworthy that now he (EU) contradicts his own statement yesterday. The very rapid change of mindset shows that the EU is not in good shape," Ulyanov tweeted, as response to a tweet by European Commission President Ursula von Der Layen, citing TASS, May 31.

As previously reported, European Union leaders agreed to embargo Russia's oil imports by 90 percent by the end of this year, breaking the stalemate over the bloc's toughest sanctions against Moscow since its invasion of Ukraine three months ago.

"Deal to ban Russian oil exports to the EU," European Council President Charles Michel said in a tweet.

"This immediately covers more than 2/3 of oil imports from Russia, cutting off a huge source of financing for its war machine. Maximum pressure on Russia to end the war," he said.

Leaders agreed the oil embargo would include exceptions for Hungary, a landlocked country that relies heavily on crude supplied from Russia, which is a major opponent to the deal, and others concerned about the economic impact of the move.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized EU leaders in a video speech for being too soft on Moscow. Addressing the summit before a deal on a ban on oil imports was announced, he criticized the EU's lack of determination.

"Why do you depend on Russia, on their pressure, and not the other way around? Russia should depend on you. Why can Russia still earn almost a billion euros a day selling energy?" President Zelensky's criticism.