BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, April 28 – During a diplomatic meeting in Brunei on Tuesday, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas encouraged Southeast Asian nations to avoid purchasing Russian oil as they navigate fuel supply challenges stemming from Middle East conflicts.
Earlier this month, the EU implemented new sanctions targeting Russia, which included stricter limitations on oil commerce, as part of efforts to weaken Moscow’s financial capacity to continue its military operations in Ukraine.
According to Kallas, Russia has gained advantages from the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has resulted in the practical shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz – a crucial shipping lane that handles approximately 20 percent of global oil transportation and other essential commodities.
“Just let me remind you that the oil revenues are the revenues that Russia is using to fund this war (in Ukraine). We have an interest that this war stops,” she stated to journalists following her discussions with foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
“That’s why we are, of course, advocating for diversifying resources and finding them elsewhere, not from Russia,” Kallas added.
The EU diplomat did not clarify whether this topic was specifically discussed during her formal meetings with ASEAN officials.
According to previous Reuters reporting from last month, several Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia, have been exploring increased oil purchases from Russia.
