The Netherlands supports the introduction of the sixth EU package, including the oil embargo. The EU has not yet approved it because of Hungary's position, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba at a press conference with his Dutch counterpart Wopke Hookstrom.
"The Netherlands is one of the leaders in the issue of sanctions, the Netherlands is one of the leaders in the issue of weapons... We talked in detail about future military supplies to Ukraine, the Ukrainian Armed Forces. We also discussed the sixth package of sanctions, which is still not born in the European Union because of the position of Hungary. The Netherlands supports the sixth package, and that it also includes an oil embargo," Kuleba said.
He emphasized that delays in the new sanctions were unacceptable and that arguments that an oil embargo would destroy the economy of Hungary or another country were far-fetched.
"We hope that a solution will be found in the coming days. If it is not found, we can only conclude that Hungary's intransigence is playing into russia's hands in its efforts to preserve the EU oil market," he said.
Kuleba added that the money earned on oil from Europe goes to finance the killings of Ukrainians.
The embargo on russian oil should be included in the sixth sanctions package of the European Union. New sanctions were introduced last week, but there was no vote - the countries are holding consultations. There is a gradual abandonment of oil imports from russia: crude - up to six months, refined - by the end of the year.
However, according to media reports, exceptions are planned for some countries: Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic should receive a reprieve. Bulgaria also insists on getting a reprieve. Otherwise, it threatens to block the embargo at EU level. It is known that the EU needs the consent of all 27 member states to apply sanctions.
Hungary and its newly elected prime minister, Viktor Orbán, have systematically opposed the imposition of anti-russian energy sanctions. The Prime Minister noted that the approval of the proposed package of sanctions will require his country to make large-scale investments in alternative supplies and modernization of Hungarian refineries. He warned that the proposed measures could also lead to further increases in energy prices.
In particular, the President of France and the President of the European Commission undertook to persuade Orban. Ursula von der Leyen today announced progress in the dialogue with Orban on sanctions and oil.