The ninth package of EU sanctions against Russia adopted on Friday allows Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia, which received a reprieve from the European Union’s oil embargo on Russian oil, to export oil products produced from it to Ukraine.
The EU Council resolution published in the EU Official Journal on December 16 says the decision “allows Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria to export to Ukraine certain refined products derived from Russian crude oil imported on the basis of the considered derogations (from the embargo – IF), including, if necessary, by transit through other member states.”
Another paragraph of the ruling allows Bulgaria to “export to third countries certain petroleum products derived from Russian crude oil imported on the basis of the derogations under consideration.
The publication attributes this to the need to “reduce environmental and safety risks, as such products cannot be safely stored in Bulgaria.
The document specifies that the respective annual exports should not exceed the average annual volume of exports of such products for the last five years.
The sixth package of EU sanctions provides for a phase-out of Russian oil, in particular from 6 months for crude oil to 8 months for other refined products, the European Council reported.
“The EU has decided to ban the purchase, import or transfer of crude oil and certain petroleum products from Russia to the EU. The phase-out of Russian oil will take from 6 months for crude oil to 8 months for other refined products,” the European Council said in a press release on its website. on Friday.
A temporary exemption is provided for the import of crude oil by pipeline to those EU member states that, due to their geographical position, suffer from a special dependence on supplies from Russia and do not have viable alternatives.
“Moreover, Bulgaria and Croatia will also receive temporary derogations regarding the import of Russian marine oil and vacuum diesel fuel, respectively,” the European Council said.
Austria is ready to participate in the embargo of oil from Russia if the relevant decision is made by the European Commission, said Minister of Climate, Environment and Energy of the country Leonore Gewessler.
“So far there is no proposal from the European Commission, but Austria is ready to consistently participate in the oil embargo if the commission and the participating countries are ready to introduce it.
According to her, Austria is prepared for this. Previously, about 10% of Austria’s oil imports came from Russia. Recently, active work has been carried out to reduce this share, and in March there was no purchase of Russian oil. But the situation in different EU countries is different, she noted.
A group of Ukrainian and international experts analyzing the real impact of the sanctions applied against Russia have discovered shipments of Kazakh oil that may secretly contain Russian oil, Oleg Ustenko, economic adviser to the President of Ukraine, said in a commentary to The Economist.
“A group of experts has already managed to detect shipments of Kazakh oil, which they believe contain part of the secretly loaded Russian oil,” Ustenko said, quoted on the website of the official website of the President of Ukraine on Friday.
As the source explained, the expert group tracks tankers with Russian oil using network analysis software, which, in particular, allows you to establish links between disparate data.
Experts are tracking the energy supply routes through which “Russia is desperately trying to finance its war machine.”
Information to the group is provided by both international experts and members of the government of other countries and even intelligence.
“The program analyzes the behavior of ships, taking into account various information. For example, the declared cargo, route and insurance data, as well as historical navigation patterns in various weather and market conditions. You can even see the tonnage of cargo on board the ship and understand if there is a suspicion that on There may be more cargo on board than stated,” the website notes with reference to Ustenko.
Experts following the results of the analysis send warnings to the relevant governments and companies, including Ukrainian departments.
In addition, a more modern approach is being taken, which involves the use of satellites in low orbits to receive signals from airborne radars.
“They’re used for navigation and collision avoidance, so sailors don’t tend to turn them off,” the source explained.
New signal processing software determines the geolocation of the signal source, sometimes within a few hundred meters.
The UK will gradually stop importing Russian oil by the end of 2022 in response to Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the British government said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The UK is working closely with the US, the EU and other partners to end our dependence on Russian hydrocarbons in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, recognising the different circumstances and transition timelines. This significant move will increase the growing pressure on Russia’s economy by choking off a valuable source of income,” the document says.
According to it, the refusal of imports will not be immediate: the UK, which covers 8% of its oil demand from Russia, will have more than enough time to adjust supply chains, support industry and consumers. The government will work with companies through a specially created Taskforce on Oil to help them use this period to find alternative sources.
London notes that oil accounts for 44% of Russian exports, which provides 17% of federal budget revenues.
According to the British government, in a competitive global market for oil and petroleum products, demand can be met by alternative suppliers. The UK has various reliable suppliers outside of Russia, including the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and the United States.
“In another economic blow to the Putin regime following their illegal invasion of Ukraine, the UK will move away from dependence on Russian oil throughout this year, building on our severe package of international economic sanctions,” UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.
According to London, Russian oil is already being ostracised by the market, with nearly 70% of Russian oil currently struggling to find a buyer, and in a competitive global market demand will quickly be met by alternative suppliers. On March 1, Russian ships were banned from UK ports and authorities were granted new powers to detain Russian vessels.
The statement notes that the UK is not dependent on Russian natural gas, making up less than 4% of our supply. Ministers are also exploring options to reduce this further.
The Prime Minister confirmed that the government will set out an energy strategy to set out the UK’s long term plans for greater energy security, including both renewable and domestic oil and gas supplies.
As reported earlier on Tuesday, the United States announced a complete renunciation of Russian oil imports.
IMPORT, RUSSIAN OIL, STOP, UK
U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday a ban on the import of Russian oil into the United States. In a press statement in Washington on Tuesday, he stated: “Today I am announcing new sanctions. We ban all oil imports. The measure has strong bipartisan support. We made this decision in close consultation with allies in Europe.”
At the same time, Biden noted that “our European allies may not be in a position to join us.”
The U.S. President called on Congress to pass a $12 billion aid package for Ukraine. He noted that the United States has already provided Ukraine with a $1 billion security assistance package and is coordinating actions in this area with European allies.
Speaking about the impact of sanctions on Russia, Biden noted that “the Russian economy has cracked.” “The Central Bank of Russia is trying to support the ruble, but cannot do it now. We are restricting Russians’ access to technology, which will weaken its military for many years to come.” “If we don’t confront Putin now, the situation will get even worse,” he said.
BAN, BIDEN, IMPORT, RUSSIAN OIL, US
