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Embargo on Russian oil would hit Hungary harder than Russia, says Hungarian minister

Peter Szijjarto noted that "this EC’s proposal creates a huge problem" for the country

MADRID, May 12. /TASS/. The embargo on purchases of Russian oil offered by the European Commission (EC) suggests Hungary being hit harder than the Russian Federation, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijjarto said in an interview published by Spain’s El Pais newspaper on Thursday.

"This proposal would hit us much harder than the Russians," he noted. "Hungary has no access to the sea, and <...> we depend on Russian oil and gas," the minister said, adding that "this EC’s proposal creates a huge problem" for the country.

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, after which the US, the EU, the UK, as well as some other states, imposed sanctions against Russian persons and legal entities.

On May 4, EC President Ursula von der Leyen announced the sixth package of sanctions against Moscow, which includes the postponed embargo on Russian oil supplies. The European Commission suggested that crude oil deliveries from Russia to the EU be banned within six months, while imports of petroleum products - in 2023, she said. The European Commission also agreed to enable Hungary and Slovakia to continue buying Russian crude oil until the end of 2024.

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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