EU leaders agree embargo on two-thirds of Russian oil imports

BRUSSELS. May 31 (Interfax) - European Union leaders have agreed an embargo on two-thirds of Russian oil imports, European Council President Charles Michel said.

"Agreement to ban export of Russian oil to the EU. This immediately covers more than 2/3 of oil imports from Russia," Michel said on Twitter.

As expected, the agreed sanctions package "includes de-Swifting the largest Russian bank Sberbank" and "banning 3 more Russian state-owned broadcasters," he said.

These measures will also involve "sanctioning individuals," Michel said.

Meanwhile, the information provided by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen slightly differs from what Michel has said.

Von der Leyen said on social media that the embargo will cut "around 90% of oil imports from Russia to the EU by the end of the year."

As reported earlier, the EU discussed an option banning seaborne oil imports from Russia. It would allow Hungary and a number of other countries to continue receiving oil via the Druzhba pipeline for some time. It was Hungary that had been blocking the embargo proposal for several weeks. Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Monday before the start of the EU leaders' summit that, on the whole, he positively treats the idea of applying an embargo only on seaborne oil shipments.