Hopes for EU ban on Russian oil despite Hungary comparing plan to ‘nuclear bomb’

French minister says deal could come this week as Macron and Orban try to break deadlock

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France has said a deal on a proposed EU ban on Russian oil could be struck this week, despite opposition from the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban, who has compared the plans to an atomic bomb.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, held a phone call with Orban in an effort to break the deadlock over the latest round of EU sanctions, the sixth since the eve of the invasion. There were contacts at all levels to ensure we have a global deal on this sixth package", a spokesperson at the Elysee Palace said after the call. Clement Beaune, a Macron ally and France's Europe minister, said he thought we could strike a deal this week".