European Union countries are likely to approve a phased embargo on Russian oil as early as next week, officials say, sealing a measure that has divided the bloc's members and highlighted their dependence on Russian energy sources. It has taken weeks for EU countries to agree on the contours of the measure, and talks will continue over the weekend before the European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, puts a finalized proposal on paper for EU ambassadors to approve. The ambassadors will meet Wednesday, and they expect to give their approval by the end of the next week, several EU officials and diplomats involved in the process say. The diplomats and officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the progress of the talks. (https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/apr/30/eu-plans-for-russian-oil-embargo/) Barring a last-minute demand by Hungary, a country that is said to have dragged its feet, officials expect that the process should be completed without requiring an EU leaders meeting -- avoiding the time-consuming effort of calling all 27 heads of state to Brussels. The embargo is likely to affect Russian oil transported by tankers more quickly than it would affect oil arriving by pipeline, which could take a matter of months. In both cases, however, it is likely that the bloc would allow its members to wind down existing contracts with Russian oil companies as it did with its coal ban, which was given four months to be fully put in place.
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