The call came as EU ministers met in Brussels to discuss their response to Russia’s decision last week to cut gas supplies to Bulgaria and Poland. Energy giant Gazprom says the two countries failed to pay their bills in April. “We will demand immediate sanctions on Russian oil and gas. “This is the next, urgent and absolute step,” said Polish Minister of Climate and Environment Anna Moskva. “We already have coal. Now is the time for oil and (the) second step is for gas. The best option is to take it all together. “ The EU has hit Russian officials, oligarchs, banks, companies and other organizations with a barrage of sanctions since Moscow ordered an invasion of Ukraine in February. The Commission is working on a sixth round of measures, possibly involving oil restrictions, and could announce them this week. The measures will have to be approved by the Member States, which can take several days. In a move last week dubbed “blackmail” in Europe, Russian energy giant Gazprom cut off supplies to Bulgaria and Poland. It came after Russian President Vladimir Putin said “unfriendly” countries should start paying for gas in rubles, the Russian currency. Bulgaria and Poland refused to do so, as do most EU countries. More Gazprom accounts expire on May 20, and the bloc is wary that Russia could turn off more taps then. Russia denies allegations of blackmail Both countries have informed ministers that consumers and industry do not face an immediate supply risk. EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson warned that Gazprom ‘s action “clearly shows that they are not reliable suppliers and that this means that all Member States must have plans for a complete shutdown” in their supply. The EU of 27 nations imports about 40% of the gas it consumes from Russia. However, some member states, especially Hungary and Slovakia, are more dependent on Russian supplies than others, and support for the phasing out of an oil embargo is emerging. Germany believes it could cope if Russian oil supplies were cut off from Moscow. Economy Minister Robert Habeck said Russian oil now accounted for 12 percent of total imports, up from 35 percent before the war, and most went to the Schwedt refinery near Berlin. “Germany is not against Russia banning oil. “Of course it is a heavy burden to bear, but we are ready to do it,” Habeck told reporters. He said a few more weeks or months to find oil tankers and better prepare ports and pipelines would be helpful. “Time is of the essence, but I think other countries have bigger problems, and as I have asked for solidarity or understanding of the situation in Germany, I am of course willing to understand perhaps the most difficult situation for other countries,” he said. Most of Monday’s meeting focused on boosting gas supplies and not giving in to Putin’s demand that companies pay for gas in rubles. About 97% of European contracts are concluded in euros or dollars. The EU’s executive, the European Commission, has warned that companies backing pressure to convert euros into rubles through two Gazprombank accounts would oppose the bloc’s sanctions. French Ecological Transition Minister Barbara Pompili, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency until the end of next month, said all countries agreed “that we must implement sanctions and respect the conventions. “And the contracts clearly say payment in euros.” Despite the pressure, Europe has some leverage in the dispute as it pays Russia $ 400 million a day for gas, a huge dent in Moscow’s coffers if it chooses a complete halt.
Frank Jordans in Berlin and Mike Corder in The Hague contributed to this exhibition.
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