EU corrects Russia oil sanctions plan, Moscow destroys Ukraine’s large ammunition depot

Unnamed sources said the proposed amendment was discussed by EU envoys at a meeting on the morning of May 6. These include allowing Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic more time to adapt to the embargo, and helping these countries upgrade their fueling infrastructure.

Specifically, Hungary and Slovakia will be able to buy Russian oil from pipelines until the end of 2024, while the Czech Republic can continue to do so until June 2024 if they do not receive fuel through a pipeline. from Southern Europe earlier.

The proposed adjustment also allows for a three-month transition before banning EU services transporting Russian oil, instead of the nine-month process originally planned.

According to Reuters, the EC on May 4 proposed an oil embargo as part of the EU’s sixth, broader package of sanctions against the EU. Russia since Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine on February 24.

The original plan required most EU member states to stop buying Russian crude six months after the ban was enacted and to stop importing refined oil products from the country by the end of the year. Hungary and Slovakia were also initially only allowed to adapt until the end of 2023.

Bulgaria asked for an exemption from implementing the ban, but was not given concessions on the duration of the application “because they don’t have a really convincing argument”, according to an official. In the end, only the 3 countries mentioned above were allowed to relax more in terms of time due to “objective problems”. In particular, Hungary and Slovakia account for only 6% of EU oil imports from Russia, so the decision to exempt will not change the impact of the ban on the Russian economy.

Diplomats say the negotiating process is complicated and it is unclear whether the new proposal will receive the support of all 27 EU member states, which is essential for the oil embargo to take effect. .

Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, said on May 6 he would convene an extraordinary meeting of EU foreign ministers next week if the union failed to reach a deal by the end of this week.

Russia announced the destruction of a large arsenal of weapons in eastern Ukraine

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that its forces fired a missile to destroy a large ammunition depot in the city of Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine.

Russian authorities on May 6 also said that their air defense system shot down two fighter jets of the Russian Federation Ukraineconsisting of Su-25 fighters and a MiG-29 in the eastern Luhansk region in the Donbass region of eastern neighboring country.

The Guardian newspaper said it was not able to independently verify the above claims.

Germany donates 7 self-propelled artillery systems to Ukraine

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht announced that Berlin will deliver seven Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery systems to Ukraine, in addition to five similar artillery systems the Netherlands has pledged to aid to the Eastern European country.

Last week, Germany reversed its longstanding policy of not sending heavy weapons to war zones, after facing mounting pressure both at home and abroad for Berlin to step up its support. support Kiev against the Russian army.

The Panzerhaubitze 2000 is one of the most powerful artillery pieces in the German arsenal, able to hit targets at a distance of 40km. Ms. Lambrecht told reporters that Germany will deliver these heavy weapons to Ukraine in the next few weeks after they are maintained.

The first round of training for a group of 20 Ukrainian soldiers using the Panzerhaubitze 2000 system is expected to begin next week in the German town of Idar-Oberstein, said German Army Chief of Staff General Eberhard Zorn, the German army chief, General Eberhard Zorn, told Reuters. These soldiers had experience in operating Soviet-made tanks.

Tuan Anh

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