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Ukrainian official says most rural settlements around Severodonetsk have fallen to Russian forces
The Hungarian authorities received a serious concession from the European Union on Monday, securing a near-total exemption from the bloc’s ban of Russian oil imports.
The exception will assist the populist authorities of Prime Minister Viktor Orban preserve costs at Hungarian fuel pumps in examine – however just for Hungarians.
Beginning final Friday, the federal government launched a system of twin pricing at fuel stations throughout the nation. Whereas the worth of petrol is now capped at HUF 480/liter ($1.30 per liter or $4.92 per gallon) for Hungarians, overseas drivers filling up in Hungary at the moment are paying much more.
The Hungarian authorities first imposed worth restrictions on gas and a few primary meals gadgets in November, in an try to melt the influence of quickly rising costs on voters forward of a key normal election in April.
Blaming “petrol tourism” for the transfer, the federal government introduced Friday that the lower cost will solely be obtainable to automobiles with Hungarian license plates.
Costs at pumps in neighboring EU international locations have been considerably larger for months, and drivers in some border areas have been making the most of the Hungarian coverage. Final week, costs have been hovering round 1.80 euros ($1.93) per liter in Slovakia, Croatia and Austria, and round 1.60 euros ($1.70) in Romania and Slovenia, in accordance with the European Fee.
Gergely Gulyás, who heads the Hungarian prime minister’s workplace, mentioned in a information convention final week that the gas freeze “ensures one of the best costs in Europe.”
“However resulting from a excessive degree of abuse, beginning [Friday], solely vehicles with Hungarian registration plates will probably be allowed to replenish at fuel stations with the decreased worth,” he mentioned.
The leaders of the European Council introduced on Monday that the European Union had agreed to ban 90% of Russian oil imports by the top of the 12 months as a part of a package deal of sanctions in opposition to Moscow over its unprovoked assault on Ukraine.
Orban has refused to help a Russian oil and fuel ban, calling the EU “irresponsible” for placing the economies of its members in danger.
Reasonably than threat Orban vetoing the entire package deal of sanctions, the EU agreed an exemption could be made for the southern section of the Druzhba pipeline. The northern section of the pipeline serves Poland and Germany, which have agreed to the embargo. The southern half goes to Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Republic.
CNN’s Boglarka Kosztolanyi contributed reporting to this submit.