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European Union foreign ministers on Monday urged Hungary to lift its veto on a proposed embargo on Russian oil, while Lithuania said the bloc was “being held hostage by a member state”.
The embargo on Russian crude oil imports was proposed by the European Commission earlier in May, and if passed, would be the toughest sanction in response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Germany, Russia’s largest buyer of energy, said it wanted an agreement authorizing an oil embargo that, according to the country, could last for years.
“I am convinced that we will find an agreement in the coming days,” said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock as she met with her counterparts.
But Hungary, Russia’s main ally in the EU, has said it wants hundreds of millions of dollars from the bloc to cover the cost of giving up Russian crude oil.
For the European Commission proposal to enter into force, all 27 EU countries must agree.
“The whole bloc is being held hostage by a member state… we have to agree, we can not be held hostage,” said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.
Other bloc foreign ministers also call on Hungary to agree to an embargo on Russian oil.
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