Any conversation about returning to Russian oil and gas is premature and threatens Europe’s safety interests, warned the countries of the European Union bordering Russia, knowing of the increasing speculation that negotiated by the United States peace agreement can normalise economical relations with Moscow.
On the global stage, the question is increasingly asked not only whether, but erstwhile Europe can reopen energy taps for Russia. EU capitals are on alert.
In fresh days both NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and the highest Ukrainian sanctioning officer have suggested that economical relations with the Kremlin may change after the final end of the war in Ukraine.
This brought force from Kiev's most ardent allies in the EU to guarantee that any thaw in relations will not apply to compliance with Russian fossil fuels. Energy and abroad Ministers met in Brussels to discuss the efforts of US president Donald Trump to end the war in Ukraine, as well as the energy safety of the block.
“Speaks Lithuanian abroad Minister Kestutis Budrys in an interview with POLITICO.
— I believe that Europe has drawn conclusions and will not go back to the trap that Russia is setting with its energy resources. Making certain that doesn’t happen is in our primary interest,” he adds.
The European Commission, an EU executive body, underlines that a return to average relations with Moscow is presently not possible. "There are no changes in EU policy towards Russia in terms of energy", says energy chief Dan Jørgensen.
"We want to be independent of energy imports from Russia," he told journalists after the gathering of energy ministers.
But EU countries bordering Russia argued that independency must proceed even after the war.
“Sari Multal’s Finnish climate minister for POLITICO says.
Estonian climate minister Yoko Alender likewise rejects the claim that European countries could return to buying oil and gas from Moscow under the peace agreement.
— At the moment, I do not see any signs that Russia has changed any of its objectives, so I think that Europe must definitely decision distant from Russian fossil fuels,” she says. “ Estonia is not buying any energy from Russia and we see that Europe must be truly determined and united in this substance and as a full halt this practice,” she adds.
The outgoing Vice Chancellor of Germany, Robert Habeck, is somewhat more ambiguous. The appellate on resumption of imports of Russian oil calls it "a bad direction". He besides believes it is unreasonable to buy Russian fuel "as long as this terrible war continues".
However, Habeck — whose country was heavy affected by the emergence in prices erstwhile the Kremlin reduced gas exports after the start of the war — was little declarative about what could happen after the war.
“Russia has abused our energy dependency”, she believes, but yet Ukraine should be able to “determine the way peace can be re-established”.
Going back to business with Moscow is simply a “time issue”?
Debates on the European energy sector take place a fewer days after Ukraine's highest authoritative for sanctions, Władysław Wlasiuk, said POLITICO, that the return to Western countries conducting business with Moscow is only "a substance of time", but only after peace has been established and guaranteed.
According to him, existing restrictions on energy exports must be seen as a ‘lift’ in exchange for circumstantial safety and justice measures specified as compensation to Ukraine.
However, he warned Europe not to become addicted to Russian resources again.
“Russia has large potential, especially in terms of energy resources,” he said, suggesting that 3rd countries may effort to reuse it. — possibly not, and hopefully not to the same degree — hopefully they will never be in a situation of complete dependence on Russian energy of any kind.
Wlasiuk added that sanctions should be maintained as long as Russia remains a serious threat to the continent. “Another way of looking at it is that energy sanctions give Europe more time to reduce dependence on Russia and facilitate long-term deterrence, strengthening Europe’s ability to defend itself and its values,” said the official.
The EU has set aside a long-awaited strategy to end Russian oil, gas and atomic technology imports for an indefinite period, due to the fact that the block adopts a waiting approach to peace talks in Ukraine. Nevertheless, Jorgensen stressed on Monday that he would present the plan "almost soon".
"We are truly afraid about the possible abolition of energy sanctions against Russia," says Svetlana Romanko, manager of the Ukrainian Razom We Stand organization. "Abolishing these sanctions now would be like giving the pyroman matches and expecting him not to set fire."
