France is negotiating with the UAE on a potential replacement of Russian energy supplies, Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire revealed on Sunday.

In an interview for Europe 1 radio, Le Maire indicated that "we are looking for a replacement for Russian gas supplies. For example, the United Arab Emirates may be a solution."

According to the French Minister, "The UAE can replace Russian oil supplies. We are already negotiating with them about this. We must find an alternative to Russian oil."

It is noteworthy that earlier in the week, the EU adopted the sixth package of anti-Russian sanctions over the war in Ukraine, including a gradual phase-out of Russian oil.

The new package will affect only oil deliveries by sea. The bloc also decided to de-SWIFT three more Russian banks — Russia's largest bank Sberbank, Credit Bank of Moscow, and Russian Agricultural Bank.

The Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Pawel Jablonski announced yesterday that the European Union is working on the seventh package of sanctions against Russia.

Jablonski expressed "optimism" that the new sanctions will target the Russian gas supply and will entail the disconnection of remaining Russian banks from SWIFT.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned in early May that the West precipitated a worldwide economic catastrophe and a wave of catastrophic inflation by imposing the most punitive sanctions on Russia in recent history in response to the Ukraine conflict.