Due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Europe is trying to get rid of its energy dependence on Russia. Now, most European countries have declared their real readiness to gradually abandon Russian oil and gas.

However, there are still countries that block the oil embargo. Is Europe ready to stop importing gas and oil from Russia? When can this happen and why is it so important?

‘It is oil that is one of two sources of Russian self-confidence and their sense of immunity. Ukraine has no time to wait. Freedom has no time to wait,’ the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced this in the video after the 45 war day.

‘It is oil that is one of two sources of Russian self-confidence and their sense of immunity. Ukraine has no time to wait. Freedom has no time to wait,’ the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced this in the video after the 45 war day.

For the first month of the war, Europe provided more than €5 billion. At the same time, they paid more than €20 billion to Russia buying oil, gas, and coal. For this money, Russia could produce more than 20 000 cruise missiles. This is the price of Russian oil.

Less oil and gas are imported from Russia fewer bombs and rockets are dropped on civilians. It is the point that Ukrainian diplomacy tries to prove to the whole world.

The 4th of May was a day when Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, announced the 6th package of EU sanctions on Russia.

Suggestions include a ban on Russian broadcasters, accountancy, and consultancy. And removing a few Russian banks from SWIFT. There is also a point with recognizing all responsible for war crimes in Bucha.  And last and the most important suggestion is refusing to import Russian oil.

The import of Russian crude oil will be phased out within 6 months and the import of refined products by the end of 2022. The US banned the import of Russian oil in March, whilst the UK committed to phasing out imports by the end of 2022.

Meeting of EU ambassadors over. No agreement yet on the sanctions on #Russia. They will reconvene again tomorrow and possibly Tuesday. Hungarian stubbornness. #Ukraine

— Rikard Jozwiak (@RikardJozwiak) May 8, 2022

At the same time, Hungary is still blocking the 6th package of EU sanctions. 

Poland refused to pay Russia for gas in rubles. It caused Russia on April the 27th to cut off the gas through one of the pipelines that led the gas to Poland.

After that, the government decided to import gas from Germany. But it is good to keep in mind that Germany is the largest importer of Russian gas and oil in Europe. So it is Russian gas.

‘If Ukraine’s international partners stop financing Russia’s energy sector, the aggressor country will very soon have problems with financing the army and the repressive apparatus’, said Yaroslav Demchenkov, Deputy Energy Minister for European Integration.

‘If Ukraine’s international partners stop financing Russia’s energy sector, the aggressor country will very soon have problems with financing the army and the repressive apparatus’, said Yaroslav Demchenkov, Deputy Energy Minister for European Integration.

By the way, Poland was preparing to refuse Russian resources. They have a lot of alternative variants. In some time, Poland will have additional gas connections with Lithuania and Slovakia and will be able to make the most of the LNG terminal.

Europe will launch this year the Baltic Pipe. This gas pipeline will allow transporting of gas from Norway to the Danish and Polish markets, as well as to end-users in neighbouring countries.

Of course, according to Ben McWilliams’ energy exports, finding a replacement for Russian gas is not so easy. The main reason is ‘huge gas pipelines that bring gas from Russia to Europe’.

You could remember the story of Nord Stream 2 and fears of undermining the energy security of the whole of Europe. The Government of Germany temporarily stops certification of the North Stream-2 gas pipeline for the supply of Russian gas to Germany.

The pipeline in the Baltic Sea was completed last year. However, it was not put into operation until the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February. 

In the long term, the European countries will be speeding up renewable energy facilities, building LNG terminals, and expanding pipelines from Azerbaijan, Algeria, and Norway.

Also among the possible facilities, there are laying pipes from Nigeria and expanding cooperation with Qatar. Consequently, the myth that Russia is the only country that can provide Europe with gas and oil, is only a myth.

According to Josep Borel, work on agreeing on the 6th package of sanctions continues. He is convinced that member states will agree on an oil embargo against Russia, despite Hungary’s current opposition. He stated this before the meeting of the foreign ministers of the G7 in Germany.

The 6th package of sanctions is a good sign. It alerts readiness in Europe to find a way. Fears of some countries are clear for economic reasons. But Ukrainian people continue to struggle not only for their own independence but also for the freedom of the whole world. Economics is worse addictive than political ideology.

The truth is that European countries could live without Russian gas, but Russia without European money will not. 

Text: Anastasiia Kerpan
Photo: © Allison Bailey / Shutterstock