EU Sticks to 2028 Plan to Abandon Russian Oil Despite Hungary, Slovakia Opposition

The European Union remains committed to its plan to phase out Russian oil imports by 2028, aiming to stop indirectly financing Russia's war in Ukraine, according to European Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen. Despite some opposition from member states such as Hungary and Slovakia, which continue to import Russian oil, the EU is prepared to move forward with the plan even without their consent. Jørgensen emphasized that Russia has weaponized energy as a tool of blackmail and that ending these imports is crucial to sending a strong message to Moscow. U.S. President Donald Trump has urged European leaders to cease buying Russian oil, and Jørgensen welcomed potential U.S. support for the EU's phase-out strategy but reported no direct pressure from Washington to accelerate the timeline. While EU gas imports from Russia have significantly decreased, oil imports remain a concern, with ongoing negotiations and discussions planned to solidify the EU's energy independence from Russia. The EU also continues to scrutinize global dynamics, such as the U.S. tariffs on India for its Russian oil purchases, highlighting the complexity of sanction enforcement and energy geopolitics.