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Even the Ukrainian foreign minister, who traveled to Brussels for the meeting, might not change the outcome: “We are all curious to see how this saga ends,” said Dmytro Kuleba with regard to the EU sanctions package, which was announced almost two weeks ago was, but cannot be dismissed. Ukraine and Hungary have lived “as neighbors” for centuries, and there is a “variety of feelings” towards each other. However, it is up to the EU to resolve the current conflict, according to Kuleba.
This escalated further on Monday: Budapest made approval dependent on support for Hungary worth billions. In a video message published on Facebook, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto spoke of investments of 15 to 18 billion euros that would be necessary for his country to turn its back on Russian oil. It is “legitimate” that Hungary is expecting a proposal from the EU Commission, said Szijjarto, who was also in Brussels.
Borrell regrets the lack of agreement
Kuleba spoke with the ministers for around two and a half hours before leaving the Council building in Brussels and pointing out that there was still no agreement. After a total of ten hours, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell informed regarding the current state of affairs: Unfortunately, no agreement was reached on the sanctions, according to Borrell. There is no unanimity – now the package will be negotiated once more between the EU ambassadors, according to the foreign policy representative.
Borrell had curbed expectations in advance: “We will do our best to lift the blockade. I cannot guarantee that it will come to that, because the positions are quite firm.” Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) expected an agreement “in the next few days”. A “certain need for discussion” is “very clear”, not all states are equally badly affected, said Schallenberg in advance.
EU emphasizes unity
“The debate should be conducted where it should be conducted, namely behind closed doors in the Council, and we then go public when we have an agreement.” A “joint appearance” and “unity” of the EU states are for Schallenberg “the essentials”, that one has “so far also managed”. One should not give the public the impression of disagreement. “Russia is watching us.”
Not only did Schallenberg speak in advance – but before Hungary’s new demands – of an expected agreement in the coming days. Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also saw an agreement “in the next few days” and emphasized the unity in the EU: “In these times, we Europeans are closer together, despite all the differences, than I have ever experienced before.”
But at least in the case of the oil embargo, the promised unity is not yet within reach. The variant that the oil embargo will be decoupled from the EU’s sixth package of sanctions is still in the air. However, Ukraine does not think much of this proposal: “I do not believe that the sixth package of sanctions can be passed without an oil embargo,” said Kuleba following the ministerial meeting.
Kuleba: EU pays “double”
The negotiations between the EU countries regarding an oil embargo were supposed to have been completed more than a week ago. The EU Commission’s original proposal was to end imports of Russian crude oil in six months and oil products in eight months because of the Ukraine war. Hungary and Slovakia should be given 20 months.
So far, offers of improvement have not been able to persuade Hungary to give up the blockade. Kuleba said that time is of the essence and Russia continues to receive money. As a result, the EU is paying “double”: on the one hand for the support of Kiev and then for the destruction by Russian weapons on Ukrainian soil, according to Kuleba. Sanctions on oil and gas imports are in “the best interest of Europe, not just Ukraine,” the minister said.
Increased support, also Western Balkans issue
There was agreement on other issues on Monday: a further 500 million euros were decided for arms deliveries to Kyiv. Funding for military aid comes from the European Peace Facility. It is a new EU financing instrument that can also be used to strengthen the capabilities of armed forces in partner countries. Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly was also a guest and discussed relations with the EU. Joly was also present at the talks with the Ukrainian foreign minister.
The Western Balkans was also a major topic – commitments are particularly important “given the current circumstances”, according to Borrell. Beforehand, Schallenberg had called for “finally getting down to business”. The region must be clearly signaled: “Your future is within the European Union,” said Schallenberg.