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EU pulls $600 mln out of Serbia's pocket by sanctions on Russian oil, says Vucic

The President noted that the situation in the energy sector is becoming more complicated, he recalled that the United States introduced a state of emergency, a similar situation in Switzerland

BELGRADE, June 7. /TASS/. EU sanctions against Russian oil pulled out $600 mln of the pocket of Serbia, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said at on national television.

"<...> Only by imposing sanctions on Russian oil, they directly took $600 million from our pocket! $600 million was taken directly from the pockets of Serbian citizens, this is within a year. People in Serbia should know this. Kirkuk, Iraqi oil, is $31 per barrel more expensive. They took $600 million from us, and we still have to invest additional money for gas," Vucic said.

The President noted that the situation in the energy sector is becoming more complicated, he recalled that the United States introduced a state of emergency, a similar situation in Switzerland. "We have de facto, but not formally, declared a state of emergency," he said, adding that energy issues are being "resolved on a daily basis."

On June 3, the EU Council adopted the sixth package of sanctions against the Russian Federation, including a postponed embargo on maritime supplies of oil and petroleum products from Russia. The ban on sea supplies of oil has been postponed until early December, for oil products - until February 2023. Temporary exemptions from the embargo are provided for imports via oil pipelines for those EU states that, due to their location, are extremely dependent on supplies from Russia and have no alternatives. These are first of all Hungary and Slovakia.

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