The European Commission wants to phase out imports of Russian oil this year, financial news agency Bloomberg reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter. Budapest is heavily dependent on Russian energy; it has moreover agreed to pay for the Russian gas in roubles, in accordance with what Moscow demands.
The Hungarian position on this issue is the opposite of that of Germany. Berlin said yesterday that it was in favor of an embargo. Germany is thus effecting a major change of course in its position, while the country has reduced its dependence on Russian black gold since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
