Russia sanctions: Germany now for oil embargo - Habeck deals probably decisive

Created: 05/02/2022, 04:45

By: Richard Strobl

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD, r) speaks to Robert Habeck (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, before the Federal Cabinet meeting in the Chancellery.

(Archive) © Michael Kappeler/dpa

Germany now supports an oil embargo against Russia.

The basis for the change of course in the sanctions in the Ukraine conflict is probably Robert Habeck.

Berlin - The next change of course by the German government in the Ukraine conflict is becoming increasingly likely.

Germany now apparently supports the European plan to ban imports of oil from Russia.

Previously, the Federal Republic was long considered a brake on the subject.

According to dpa information, in recent preliminary talks on a possible sixth EU sanctions package, the government had clearly spoken out in favor of introducing such an embargo.

The agency relies on information from EU diplomats.

The ARD also confirmed this information.

A corresponding decision by the European Union has thus become much more likely.

Russia sanctions: Germany now probably for oil embargo

Only Hungary, Austria and Slovakia as well as Spain, Italy and Greece are considered to be the brakes on the oil embargo.

According to diplomats, countries such as Slovakia and Hungary have so far been against a rapid import ban, mainly because of their great dependence on Russian oil supplies.

In the southern European countries, meanwhile, the expected increase in energy prices after an embargo is viewed with great concern by consumers.

The reason for the German course reversal is likely to be the recent successes in the search for alternative oil suppliers.

Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) announced last Tuesday that Germany's dependence on Russian oil had been reduced from 35 percent before the start of the Ukraine war to 12 percent within eight weeks.

An oil embargo with a sufficient transitional period would now be manageable in Germany, subject to rising prices.

Oil embargo against Russia: Hungary is now considered a blocker

In the coming days, the EU could decide on another package of sanctions against Russia, which also includes import bans on oil.

A corresponding text is currently being prepared, and the EU Commission could present it in the coming days with a view to a meeting of ambassadors on Wednesday, as the AFP news agency learned from diplomatic circles in Brussels over the weekend.

According to this, Hungary in particular is still considered a potential blocker of a unanimous decision on sanctions that will then be necessary.

After his re-election in early April, Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that he would veto any form of energy embargo.

Because of the Russian war in Ukraine, the EU countries had already decided to ban the import of Russian coal.

The Ukraine and EU countries such as Poland and the Baltic countries have long been calling for an expansion to include oil and gas.

However, Germany and some other countries are very dependent on Russian energy imports.

You can read the background to the Ukraine conflict here.