Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Khatib: We will reveal the documents soon.
Khatib: The operation was carried out some time ago, but we preferred to delay announcing the news to ensure the operation’s safety.
Khatib: We are refraining from revealing the methods used to transfer the documents at this time.
Khatib: The methods used to transfer the documents into Iran are just as important as the documents themselves.
Minister Khatib: We obtained additional documents that enhance Iran’s offensive capabilities.
Minister Khatib: We obtained complete nuclear documents and documents concerning “Israel’s” relations with Western countries and the United States.
Minister Khatib: What we obtained is truly a highly important intelligence treasure, strategically, operationally, and practically.
Minister Khatib: What happened is a very significant intelligence event, and it cannot be reduced to merely obtaining thousands of documents.
Minister Khatib: The documents we acquired were safely transferred to Iran.
Minister Khatib: The Ministry of Intelligence has obtained a treasure trove of strategic, operational, and tactical information.

EU to propose ban on imports of Russian oil

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 3 May 2022 08:46
5 Min Read

Amid confusion and complexity, the EU Commission will propose the sixth package of anti-Russian sanctions.

  • x
  • The EU will propose a phased-out ban on imports of Russian oil -- but not gas. 
    The EU will propose a phased-out ban on imports of Russian oil -- but not gas. 

The European Union warned member states Monday to prepare for a possible complete breakdown in gas supplies from Russia, insisting it would not cede to Moscow's demand that imports be paid for in rubles.

The European Commission will, on Tuesday, propose to member states a new package of sanctions against the Kremlin over the war in Ukraine, including an embargo on Russian oil, officials mentioned.

But the energy and environment ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday addressed the larger and potentially more complicated issue of Russia's natural gas, upon which several countries -- including EU top economy Germany -- depend for much of their power generation.

Moscow has demanded clients from "unfriendly countries" -- including EU member states -- pay for gas in rubles, a way to sidestep Western financial sanctions against its central bank. It has cut off Bulgaria and Poland after their firms refused to comply.

Preparing for a breakdown

After the talks, the French chair of the meeting, Ecological Transition Minister Barbara Pompili, and the European commissioner for energy, Kadri Simson, said the 27 member states were united with Poland and Bulgaria and would stockpile gas to be prepared for a breakdown.

Simson said that "following the full procedure as set out by Russia constitutes a breach of sanctions" imposed by the European Union.

She said that, to her knowledge, no European company was preparing to follow Putin's decree and change its payment methods.

"Breach of sanctions"

But several countries are to renew supply contracts at the end of May, and reports suggest some could seek to work around the sanctions by following the method put forward by Moscow.

This would entail a firm opening two accounts in Russian state energy giant Gazprom's bank. Payments would be deposited in one account in euros or dollars, then be passed through the sanctioned Russian central bank, before arriving in the second account in rubles.

Related News

Orbán slams Ukraine's EU accession as economic threat to Europe

Hungary to block EU ban on Russian energy, Orban says

Simson and some ministers seemed to say that this would still constitute a sanctions breach. But other member states demanded further clarification from the European Commission's experts.

"What has happened today is that the European Commission and the presidency have confirmed that paying in rubles is unacceptable, that it is a breach of sanctions and a breach of European solidarity," Poland's environment minister Anna Moskwa considered.

This comes at a time when the head of the Hungarian Prime Minister's office, Gergely Gulyas said on Sunday that apart from Hungary, nine other European countries have opened accounts in Russian banks in accordance with Russia's scheme to accept gas payments in rubles.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Friday that several European gas suppliers to Russia have agreed to new payment terms in rubles, but are keeping it quiet and disseminating misleading information about Hungary's attitude on the subject.

"A complex process"

But Sweden's Minister of Energy and Digital Development, Khashayar Farmanbar, said, "I think the clarification is still ongoing ... it is a complex process." 

"I mean, paying with one currency is one thing, but if that involves another country's central bank, then it becomes part of a different part of the package, and that is going to be a bit tricky," he explained.

Similarly, Czech's Minister of Industry and Trade, Jozef Sikela, said he had asked for a "clear explanation of how to proceed."

During the meeting, European officials were forced to deal with media reports that Italy wants to continue to pay in rubles until there is a legal alternative.

Simson indicated that she had spoken to Italian minister Roberto Cingolani, who did not attend the meeting and that the report was "misleading" -- but she promised to provide him and all EU capitals with clearer guidance.

The European commissioner for energy claimed that Russia's actions showed "they are not reliable suppliers and that means that all the member states have to have plans in place for full disruption."

Sixth package of anti-Russian sanctions

On Tuesday, the EU will propose a phased-out ban on imports of Russian oil -- but not gas. 

The commission will propose a tapered ban over six to eight months to give time to diversify supply. One senior official said there could be opt-outs for the most dependent countries, like Hungary. 

The sixth package of anti-Russian sanctions will also target the country's largest bank, Sberbank, which will be excluded from the global banking communications system SWIFT, diplomats noted. 

On Monday, the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, pointed out that the new sanctions package would result in "more Russian banks that will leave SWIFT" during a visit to Panama.

  • Hungary
  • Poland
  • Moscow
  • Europe
  • Kremlin
  • Russia
  • SWIFT
  • EU
  • Czech Republic
  • Bulgaria
  • Sweden
  • Ukraine
  • Josep Borrell
  • European Commission
  • European Union
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

The logo of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (wikidata)

Iran acquired thousands of sensitive Israeli documents: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 7 Jun 2025
A Palestinian woman mourns as she embraces the body of her daughter Mayar Abu Odeh, 8, who was killed in an Israeli army strike on Gaza. at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP)

French port workers block arms shipment to 'Israel' amid Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 4 Jun 2025
New Syrian group claims Golan strike, vows resistance to 'Israel'

New Syrian group claims Golan strike, vows resistance to 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 4 Jun 2025
Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, June 2, 2025. (AP)

Boston Consulting Group withdraws from GHF

  • Palestine
  • 3 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/pentagon-chief--nato-likely-to-back-trump-s-5--defence-spend
Politics

Europe spent $3 trillion on defense, but got little in return - FT

Power, parties, and scandal: Trump’s ties to Epstein: Telegraph
Europe

Power, parties, and scandal: Trump’s ties to Epstein - The Telegraph

Eilat port as seen from the sea, occupied Palestine, March 12 2009 (wikimedia commons)
Politics

YAF operations forced 80% plunge in Eilat port revenues in 2024

EU backs International Criminal Court after US sanctions judges
Europe

EU backs International Criminal Court after US sanctions judges

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS