The European Union is preparing to ban the import of Russian oil, with possible exemptions, while the energy ministers of the bloc held an emergency meeting on Monday on the demand for Russia to be paid in rubles for its gas deliveries. At the end of this emergency meeting, the European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, repeated that recourse to the payment system set up by Russia to convert the payment of Russian gas imports into rubles would represent a violation of the sanctions imposed by the European Union on Moscow. The European Commission is expected to propose a sixth round of sanctions against Russia this week which could include the imposition of an embargo on Russian oil imports. The measure, which has so far divided EU countries, would deprive Moscow of an important source of revenue. Russia supplies 40% of the EU’s gas imports and 26% of its oil imports. To preserve European unity, the Commission could grant Hungary and Slovakia an exemption or a long transition period, while the embargo should be phased in by the end of the year, diplomats said Monday. Both Hungary and Slovakia are heavily dependent on Russian crude oil. Hungary has already declared that it will oppose energy sanctions. Opposition from other European countries to the oil embargo appears to be waning ahead of Wednesday’s meeting where ambassadors will discuss sanctions. “We have succeeded in reaching a situation where Germany is able to withstand an oil embargo,” German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said on Monday. “That means it won’t be without consequences.” “Germany is not against a ban on Russian oil. Of course it is a heavy load to bear, but we would be ready to do it” – Robert Habeck Adding that Europe’s largest economy had reduced the share of Russian oil at 12%, against 35% before the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine. Austrian Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler said Vienna would accept the introduction of oil sanctions if other countries did. “It would be useful to have weeks or months to do all the technical preparations. We should find ships that transport oil from west to east, we have to prepare the ports, we have to prepare the pipelines. Having time would be therefore useful, but I think other countries have bigger problems,” added Robert Habeck. Last week, Gazprom, the Russian energy giant, halted gas deliveries to Bulgaria and Poland after the two European countries refused to make payments on terms demanded by Moscow. While Sofia and Warsaw had already planned to end Russian gas imports by the end of the year and said they could compensate for Gazprom’s halt in deliveries, the decision fueled fears that other EU countries find themselves in the same situation, including Germany, which is highly dependent on Russian gas. No lifting of sanctions against Russia without a peace agreement in Ukraine The economic sanctions imposed by the European Union on Russia since the invasion of Ukraine will not be lifted until a peace agreement is reached. concluded between Moscow and Kyiv, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday. “Our goal is for Russia to end the war and withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory,” the German leader said in an interview with the public broadcaster ZDF. “We will only lift the sanctions if (Russian President Vladimir Putin) reaches an agreement with Ukraine, and he will not obtain it by dictating the conditions of peace”, continued Olaf Scholz. The EU will never accept the fait accompli of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, he added. A united Europe The question also threatens to open breaches in the united front that the EU has displayed against Russia since the start of its offensive in Ukraine, while differences remain between the countries of the community bloc. on how to import gas. With many European companies having to contractually make payments for Russian gas this month, it has become urgent for the EU27 to clarify whether maintaining such purchases constitutes a violation of the European sanctions imposed against Moscow. Brussels began to consider a new directive after a request for it from several countries, including Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Poland and Slovakia. EU countries have paid more than 46 billion euros to Russia for gas and oil since its offensive in Ukraine, according to research body Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air. 3,000 civilians killed in Ukraine The announcement comes as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Monday that more than 3,000 civilians had been killed in Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24. According to the latest toll, 3,153 people are believed to have died so far, an increase of 254 from Friday, although the UN body expects the actual toll to be much higher, due to the difficulties of access and verifications in progress. Most of the victims were killed by explosive weapons with a wide impact area, such as missile strikes and airstrikes, the High Commission said, without attributing responsibility.