Source: EU may prohibit only Russian tanker oil imports

BRUSSELS, May 30 (PRIME) -- An E.U. source confirmed on May 29 a media report that Brussels is discussing an embargo on Russian oil shipped by tankers, leaving oil pumped via the Druzhba pipeline outside of the sanctions.

"Only an embargo on Russian oil carried by tankers is being discussed, the Druzhba oil pipeline may be excluded (from the sanctions)," the source said, adding that this would become a sensitive measure for Russia nevertheless, because Moscow would lose two thirds of its exports to Europe or more.

The source also said that the E.U. continued to discuss sanctions in a single package. "There are different elements in the sixth package as well … We are talking about oil because this is the most sensitive thing, but we are discussing different elements as well. We have advanced much more on these other, less covered (by media) issues. But we are discussing everything in a single package," the official said.

The source admitted that the negotiations on sanctions against Russia were very difficult. He said that a Monday meeting of the E.U. permanent representatives, where confiscation of the frozen Russian assets will be discussed, would bring about more clarity.

The E.U. is not discussing the withdrawal of sanctions against Russia in exchange for its efforts to solve the food crisis, the source said.

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