BRUSSELS (AP) – Poland called on its European Union partners on Monday to unite and impose broad sanctions on Russian oil and gas over the war in Ukraine and not succumb to pressure to pay for their gas in Russian rubles.
The call came when EU ministers met in Brussels to discuss their response to Russia’s decision last week to cut off gas supplies to Bulgaria and Poland. Energy giant Gazprom says the two countries failed to pay their bills in April.
“We will call for immediate sanctions against Russian oil and gas. This is the next, urgent and absolute step, “said Polish Minister of Climate and Environment Anna Moscow. “We already have coal. Now is the time for oil and the (second) step is for gas. The best option is to take them together. ”
The EU has hit Russian officials, oligarchs, banks, companies and other organizations with multiple sanctions after Moscow ordered an invasion of Ukraine in February. The commission is working on a sixth round of measures, possibly involving oil restrictions, and may announce them this week.
The measures must be approved by the member states, which can take several days.
Last week, dubbed “blackmail” in Europe, Russian energy giant Gazprom cut off supplies to Bulgaria and Poland. This happened after Russian President Vladimir Putin said that “unfriendly” countries should start paying for gas in rubles, Russia’s currency.
Bulgaria and Poland have refused to do so, as have most EU countries. More Gazprom bills are due on May 20, and the bloc fears Russia could stop more taps then. Russia denies allegations of extortion.
Both sides briefed ministers that consumers and industry do not face immediate supply risks.
EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson warned that Gazprom’s actions “clearly show that they are not reliable suppliers and that this means that all Member States must have plans to completely cut off” their supplies.
The 27-member EU imports about 40% of the gas it consumes from Russia. But some member states, especially Hungary and Slovakia, are more dependent on Russian supplies than others, and there is support for the gradual introduction of the oil embargo.
Germany believes it could cope if Russian oil supplies are cut off from Moscow. Economy Minister Robert Habek said Russian oil now accounts for 12% of total imports, less than 35% before the war, and most of it goes to a Swedish refinery near Berlin.
“Germany is not against the ban on oil from Russia. Of course, this is a heavy burden, but we are ready to do it, “Habek told reporters. He said it would be useful for a few more weeks or months to find ships to transport oil and better prepare ports and pipelines.
“The weather is good, but I think other countries have bigger problems, and because I asked for solidarity or an understanding of the German situation, I am also, of course, ready to understand perhaps the more difficult situation for other countries,” he said. .
Most of Monday’s meeting focused on boosting gas supplies and not giving in to Putin’s demand that companies pay for gas in rubles. About 97% of European contracts are in euros or dollars.
The EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, has warned that companies giving in to pressure to convert the euro into rubles through two Gazprombank accounts would be in breach of the bloc’s sanctions.
French Environment Minister Barbara Pompili, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency until the end of next month, said all countries agree “that we must apply sanctions and abide by the treaties.” And the contracts clearly state payment in euros. “
Despite the pressure, Europe has some leverage in the dispute, as it pays Russia $ 400 million a day for gas, which is a huge dent in Moscow’s treasury if it chooses to shut down altogether.
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Frank Jordans in Berlin and Mike Corder in The Hague contributed to this report.
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Follow the AP’s coverage of the war
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