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EU to reach agreement on Russian oil embargo by end of week, says French minister

It was also stated that the EU should reduce its dependence on energy supplies and develop renewable sources of energy

PARIS, May 5. /TASS/. The agreement on Russian oil embargo in the European Union (EU) may be reached by the end of this week, France's Ecological Transition Minister Barbara Pompili told the France Info radio station on Thursday.

"This is normal that discussions are underway as some EU countries depend on Russian oil more than others, which is why it is necessary to reach an agreement that would allow taking this measure, and it is the subject of discussions that are currently taking place in Brussels," she said. "I think we will reach [an agreement] by the end of the week," the minister added.

It is easier for the European Union to abandon crude oil, she admitted, noting that the decision on diesel "will take some additional time."

The EU should reduce its dependence on energy supplies and develop renewable sources of energy, Pompili emphasized.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on February 24 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics, he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in Ukraine, stressing that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories. The United States and its allies responded to Russia’s actions by slapping massive sanctions and speeding up arms supplies to Kiev.

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