• The sixth package of European economic sanctions against Vladimir Putin's Russia will also include an oil embargo.
• This is what the Union's leaders decided when they met on 30 May for the extraordinary European Council.
• A temporary exception is envisaged, however, for oil transported via pipelines.

The sixth package of European economic sanctions against Vladimir Putin's Russia will also include an oil embargo. With one significant exception: a temporary exemption for imports of Russian oil through pipelines. This is what the Union's leaders decided on 30 May, at the end of the first day of the extraordinary European Council convened in Brussels.

How the Russian oil embargo will work

This position was taken by the European Council — the institution that defines the Union's priorities and general political guidelines, made up of the heads of state or government of the member states (Italy was represented by Mario Draghi), President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Ursula von der Leyen ✓ @vonderleyen

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I am glad that tonight leaders agreed in principle on the sixth sanctions package. This is an important step forward.

We also agreed to work on a mechanism to provide Ukraine with a new, exceptional macro-financial assistance package of up to €9 billion. x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

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The statement published at the end of the summit states that the sixth package of sanctions must also include a ban on importing crude oil and petroleum products from Russia into member states. The leaders therefore urge the Council of the European Union — the body that negotiates and adopts legislative acts — to finalise the new sanctions package and adopt it "without delay".

Pipeline oil imports spared

The agreement reached by the Union's leaders does, however, include two conditions. The first: a temporary exception is granted for crude oil transported via pipelines. A compromise solution that makes it possible to "immediately cover more than two thirds of oil imports from Russia, cutting off an enormous source of funding for its war machine," writes Charles Michel on Twitter.

António Costa ✓ @eucopresident

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Tonight #EUCO agreed a sixth package of sanctions.

It will allow a ban on oil imports from #Russia.

The sanctions will immediately impact 75% of Russian oil imports. And by the end of the year, 90% of the Russian oil imported in Europe will be banned.

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By the end of the year the figure will reach 90 per cent, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoes.

Ursula von der Leyen ✓ @vonderleyen

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I welcome the #EUCO agreement tonight on oil sanctions against Russia.

This will effectively cut around 90% of oil imports from Russia to the EU by the end of the year.

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At the same time, however, in doing so the Union "spares" landlocked countries such as Hungary, which had until now consistently and strenuously opposed the Russian oil embargo, on which it is completely dependent. This explains the enthusiasm expressed on Facebook by ultra-conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

The second condition, meanwhile, is intended to guarantee continuity of supply of oil, leaving the door open to "emergency measures" should "sudden disruptions" occur.