OREANDA-NEWS. The European Commission may allow Hungary and Slovakia not to impose a ban on oil imports from Russia as part of the next EU sanctions. An exception for them can be made for the sake of "preserving the unity of the bloc," Reuters reports, citing EU representatives.

Interlocutors of the agency explained that two options are possible. In the first case, I can allow Budapest and Bratislava not to join the oil embargo, in the second case, they will be offered a longer period of time to refuse Russian oil supplies.

They also added that Europe will most likely introduce a phased ban on oil imports from the Russian Federation and it will come into force only in 2023.

Earlier, the head of the Office of the Prime Minister of Hungary, Gergely Guiyash, said that Budapest would veto any EU initiative related to limiting the import of Russian energy resources. He stressed that the EU should not impose such sanctions that would have negative consequences for its economy.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced the timing of the EU's refusal to supply energy resources from the Russian Federation. According to him, coal imports will be stopped in the summer, and before the end of this year, the community will abandon Russian oil and seriously reduce gas imports.