“Forever”. Germany reduced Russia’s energy consumption to “zero”

German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock said at a joint conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba that Germany will permanently abandon Russian energy carriers in the future.

We clearly understood that economic dependence does not lead to security if the aggressor remains indifferent to the welfare of his people. Therefore, with all its consequences, we reduce to zero our dependence on Russian energy carriers. And this is forever,” said Burbock (quoted by RIA Novosti).

Moreover, according to the minister, sanctions against Russia cannot be reversed even if they affect Germany.

“With regard to the sanctions, I made it clear that the sanctions cannot be withdrawn if we feel they have an economic impact in Germany. Not! Only after Ukraine is free again,” Burbock stressed.

He also promised that there would be no deal with Moscow behind Kiev.

In addition, the head of the German Foreign Ministry expressed confidence that Ukraine will be given the status of a clear candidate for EU membership, but there should be no “empty promises” in the process of admitting Kiev into the union. He expressed the view that the European Union needs reforms to accept Ukraine into its ranks.

Berlin prepares for oil embargo

On May 4, German Economy Minister Robert Habek said that Germany is ready for an oil embargo from Russia.

“Of course, we cannot guarantee that there are no problems at the regional level first of all,” the minister said.

In response, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that the German Cabinet has all the leverage to support regional sales linked to oil imports from Russia.

At the end of March, Scholz said his country hopes to be independent of Russian oil and coal imports by 2022. According to the Chancellor, the country’s authorities are preparing the necessary “technical conditions” for this.

Reuters reported on May 10 that the German government has developed a procedure to deal with the cancellation of Russian energy supplies. According to the agency, Germany is afraid Russia’s unilateral cut-off of economic relations in the energy field.

Germany is currently negotiating gas and LNG supplies with Middle Eastern countries. On 9 May, it was learned that Germany and Qatar could not agree on the duration of the liquefied natural gas supply contract. Exports will not be possible until Berlin and Doha agree.

Oil transport not yet banned

EU countries are now discussing the embargo on Russian oil as part of the upcoming sixth package of sanctions. According to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the embargo will be accepted before 15 May. The discussion of the sixth sanction bloc caused a lot of controversy among European countries and went on for longer than previously expected. It is difficult for diplomats to agree on a new package of sanctions, especially on the part of the embargo on the import of Russian oil into the EU.

Citing diplomatic sources in the EU, the DPA agency said the oil transport ban is no longer included in the sixth sanctions package.

In his view, more coordination is needed at the international level, including agreement within the G7, to decide whether to include this item in the sanctions package.

It is also known that Greece, Cyprus and Malta oppose the measure for fear that it might hurt shipping companies.

At the same time, the ban on European companies to insure tankers carrying Russian oil remains part of future restrictions, according to DPA sources. This could hinder oil supplies from Russia to other countries.

Bloomberg previously reported that they were discussing the possibility of easing some clauses as part of the preparation of a new sanctions package in the EU. In particular, they discussed the lifting of the proposed ban on the transport of Russian oil to third countries by the EU courts.

The agency’s sources said that the lack of a unified position among the G7 countries played a major role in the decision to lift this ban.

On May 4, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced the sixth package of sanctions, which included a deferred embargo on Russian oil supplies. According to him, the EC is in favor of a ban on imports of crude oil from Russia to the EU within six months and imports of petroleum products in 2023.

However, due to the failure to agree on new sanctions measures, the European Commission has had to soften its proposals to ban oil supplies at least three times.

Hungary and Slovakia opposed the embargo, as well as Bulgaria, which announced it could veto anti-Russian sanctions on oil.