- Title: Hungary cannot support EU ban on Russian oil imports - minister
- Date: 4th May 2022
- Summary: KOGALYM, RUSSIA (FILE - JANUARY 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LUKOIL FACILITY
- Embargoed: 18th May 2022 15:36
- Keywords: European Union embargo Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto Hungary Russia Ukraine Uzbekistan oil
- Location: TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN / KOGALYM, RUSSIA
- City: TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN / KOGALYM, RUSSIA
- Country: Uzbekistan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA004574804052022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Hungary cannot support a proposed European Union embargo on crude oil imports from Russia as that would destroy its energy security, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Wednesday (May 4).
"The Brussels package of sanctions would ban oil shipments from Russia to Europe, with a rather short notice, in case of Hungary the end of next year," Szijjarto said in a Facebook video, adding that Hungary cannot support the measures in their current form.
Hungary could only agree to these measures if crude oil imports from Russia via pipeline were exempted from the sanctions, the minister said.
The new punishments, announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, included sanctions on Russia's top bank and a ban on Russian broadcasters from European airwaves, as well as the embargo on crude oil in six months.
The EU faces the task of finding alternatives when energy prices have surged as it imports some 3.5 million barrels of Russian oil and oil products every day and also depends on Moscow's gas supplies.
A handful of eastern EU countries are concerned that the halt would not allow them enough time to adapt, even though diplomats said Hungary and Slovakia would be given until the end of 2023.
(Production: Natasa Bansagi) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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