EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell expects members of the bloc to reach an agreement on a new package of sanctions against Russia, including a ban on Russian oil imports, during negotiations between officials.

“We need to make a unanimous decision. Yesterday afternoon, as well as this morning, there were difficult negotiations,” Borrell said. “I think we will be able to present an agreement to the heads of member states this afternoon.”

EU governments failed yesterday to reach an agreement on the Russian oil embargo, but have been keen to have an agreement ready before the bloc’s summit tonight.

Asked if plans to include a ban on Russian oil imports could fall through due to resistance from Hungary and other Eastern European countries, Borrell said: “We will not fail to ban Russian oil in the next package and in the end we will come to agreement.”

Under the proposal discussed last night among the EU countries, it is forbidden to ship Russian oil to the EU countries by sea until the end of this year, but excludes oil supplied through the Russian Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Borrell noted: “We have to take into account the individual circumstances of each member (of the European Union),” adding that “a pan-European solution should give the three countries, which account for seven to eight percent of Russian oil imports, more time. “adapt”.