Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on EU heads of state or government to unite and agree as soon as possible on the next package of sanctions against Russia. “Internal disputes only lead to Russia increasing pressure on Europe,” Zelenskyy said in his nearly 10-minute video message at the start of the EU special summit in Brussels on Monday.
He thanked everyone who wants to bring forward the sixth sanction package. “Unfortunately, it’s not that far yet,” he said. Contrary to an earlier speech by the Ukrainian president at an EU summit, he did not address individual heads of state or government, but all 27.
“Why are you dependent on Russia?”
“It’s time for you to act not individually, but together,” Zelenskyy said. “Why are you dependent on Russia and Russian pressure, and why not the other way around,” the Ukrainian president said, referring to European states’ reliance on Russian gas and oil resources.
Diplomatic battle for sanctions
According to information from EU diplomats, the heads of state and government discussed the consequences of the war in Ukraine in the afternoon. It also discussed ways to secure the export of grain stored in Ukraine. There are fears that Russia is spreading the rumor that EU sanctions are responsible for the food crisis, it said. Later, dinner should be mainly about energy.
Possible oil embargo imminent
The sixth package of sanctions, including the controversial Russian oil embargo, is not officially on the agenda, but has shaped the summit from the start. The latest proposal excludes pipeline deliveries. This corresponds to about a third of the oil deliveries and mainly affects Hungary, which has no access to the sea.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says he supports the sanctions but has demanded further guarantees to agree to the embargo.
Source: Krone
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