EU members seek exemptions from Russian oil embargo

European Union officials have handed over a draft plan to member states on a new package of sanctions against Russia, but some members are jockeying to opt out of an oil embargo.

Several EU officials and European diplomats in Brussels told the AFP news agency that there were divisions over the plan.

Ambassadors from the 27 EU countries will meet on Wednesday to give the plan a once-over. It will need unanimous approval before going into effect.

The commission’s proposal would phase in a ban on oil imports from Russia over six to eight months, with Hungary and Slovakia allowed to take a few months longer, EU officials told AFP.