Earlier on Tuesday, the Croatian president said that the European sanctions against Russia were not working since Moscow could sell oil to others. He made the statement after the EU decided to impose a partial embargo on the import of oil from Russia.
“It is incorrect that the sanctions are not helping, thanks to its energy sources, Russia is financing war operations in which a large number of soldiers and civilians die every day,” Plenković said after a EU summit in Brussels, at which the sixth package of sanctions against Russia was hammered out.
Plenković added that sanctions were a moral matter and that one should be on the right side of history and law.
“The government is, I am, and the Croatian public should ask themselves whether mister Milanović is,” Plenković said.
“We are pursuing a policy in the interest of Croatia and in the interest of the EU, in the interest of justice and solidarity, and if he’s pursuing a policy… to the advantage of the Russian aggressor, he should explain that to citizens, because we aren’t. Unfortunately, that has been happening for months and is no longer a coincidence, it’s a great pity and shame for Croatia,” he added.
Plenković also rejected Milanović’s claims that Croatia was no energy hub.
Denying Croatia’s strategic role in our neighborhood, all the activities we do, the fact that the LNG terminal was realized during our term of office, and the fact that investments in critical infrastructure would give Croatia a completely different position can be called either ignorance or jealousy. All of that is human and I’m sorry he gives such statements, said Plenković.
During its summit meeting in Brussels on Monday, the European Union agreed on a new set of sanctions whereby seaborne oil imports from Russia would be immediately banned. Two-thirds of the Russian oil imported by the EU comes via tanker and one-third by the Druzhba pipeline. The embargo on seaborne oil imports would therefore apply to two-thirds of all oil imported from Russia. Since Germany and Poland announced that they would completely give up Russian oil by year’s end, the import of Russian oil will drop by 90%.
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