US President Donald Trump reiterated that Europe should “immediately” stop buying Russian oil and gas to stop Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Earlier, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham threatened Hungary and Slovakia with consequences for continuing to buy Russian oil, as they are its main European buyers.
In response, Croatia has announced that it is ready to supply all the oil needs of both Hungary and Slovakia via the Adriatic oil pipeline.
“The country can guarantee the supply of more than 12 million tons of oil of any necessary blend to meet all the needs of the oil refinery in the city of Sázsalombatta, in Hungary, and the Bratislava refinery in Slovakia”, said Prime Minister Andrí Plenković.
Meanwhile, EC President Ursula von der Leyen, following her discussions with Trump, indicated that the EC plans to accelerate the phased reduction of Russian oil imports. Additionally, she said, the EU will soon present its 19th package of Russian sanctions, which will target the cryptocurrency sector, banks, and energy.
Moreover, the EU also intends to support Trump’s efforts to increase pressure on China, the main buyer of Russian energy resources. Discussions regarding the new package, expected on September 19, will include the potential inclusion of Chinese companies on the sanctions list. This approach does not align with Trump’s demands, as the EU prefers targeted sanctions over broad tariffs. European diplomats worry that Trump’s demands could be a trap that is intended to delay action against Russia and shift blame onto NATO allies.
It’s important to note that tariffs up to 100% on imports from China could accelerate inflation in Europe and harm the EU economy.
