EU fails to secure US and G7 support to block Russian oil: tensions over 20th Sanctions Package.

The European Union has failed to garner support from the United States and G7 partners to introduce a joint blockade on Russian oil supplies as part of the twentieth package of sanctions against Moscow, according to a diplomatic source in Brussels.

Reportedly, Brussels presented Washington and other G7 nations with a plan aimed at completely banning European companies from transporting Russian oil. The proposal also included a ban on providing maintenance, supply, financing, and insurance services to the tankers involved, regardless of the flag they fly.

The European Commission reportedly invited its partners to adopt similar restrictions for their own companies. The United States, however, allegedly rejected the proposal. The same source did not rule out that Washington might introduce autonomous measures in the future, “at the appropriate time and on its own terms.”

Other G7 members expressed theoretical willingness to consider aligning with European sanctions but stopped short of providing concrete commitments.

Deep divisions within the EU.

Over the weekend, ambassadors from member states failed to make significant progress on the new sanctions package. A final decision is now expected during the meeting of Foreign Ministers scheduled for today.

The situation has been further complicated by Hungary’s announcement of its intention to block the entire package during the ministerial meeting. Budapest is demanding that Brussels intervene urgently to ensure Ukraine restores the transit of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline. Transit was suspended by Kyiv on January 27 following an alleged Russian drone attack on the infrastructure.

A delicate compromise.

According to another diplomatic source, the measures proposed by the European Commission include a detailed list of grounds that would allow for the detention and inspection of “suspicious” tankers to verify if they are transporting Russian crude.

However, some member states view this initiative as carrying “a concrete risk of military confrontation with Russia at sea.”

Despite the tensions, the source expressed confidence that the package will be adopted by February 24. It remains to be seen which provisions will eventually be removed or watered down compared to the initial draft.

Photo by Mediamodifier from Pixabay.com