Months ago the European Union began negotiating with third countries an increase in the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to reduce energy dependence on Russia, even before Vladimir Putin gave the order to invade Ukraine. The war, however, has accelerated the need to become independent and seek alternative sources to meet the goal of reducing Russian imports by two thirds by the end of the year. And one of these deals could be announced as soon as this Friday with United States. “Tomorrow with President (Joe) Biden we will present a new chapter in our energy partnership. This is additional liquefied natural gas from the United States to the European Union to replace Russian LNG. It is an important step forward & rdquor ;, has confirmed the president of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyenupon arrival at European Council which focuses this Thursday and Friday on the war in ukraine and the energy crisis.
A European summit to which, for the first time in history, a president of the United States has attended. Joe Biden He has arrived at the European event, after participating in the extraordinary summit of NATO leaders and the subsequent meeting of the G7, with a message of unity against Putin. “One of the things he is trying to do is show that democracies cannot function in the 21st century because things are moving so fast that they require consensus while autocracies are going to govern & rdquor ;, he has warned accompanied by Charles Michaelwho was re-elected this Thursday by the rest of the European partners – there was no alternative candidate – as President of the European Council for the next two and a half years, until November 30, 2024.
“What matters is the unit. It is the most important thing we can do to stop a country that has committed war crimes & rdquor ;, Biden recalled about the response to be given to the Vladimir Putin regime for a war that, from a military point of view, according to the head of the european diplomacy, Joseph Borrell, is a “failure” because “they have been fighting for a month and have not been able to advance 200 km from their logistics bases.” Despite the difficult situation in Ukraine, the Twenty-seven European leaders remain divided on the imposition of an embargo on gas, oil and coal from Russia, a sanction that they have already adopted United States or United Kingdom and that some European partners such as the three Baltic republics or Poland insistently demand in the framework of a fifth package of sanctions.
decisive sanctions
“The sanctions have to be as decisive as they can be, which is why Poland appeals to sanctions on Russian gas, oil and coal. The sooner we understand that this is the main oxygen for Russia’s war machine, the better & rdquor ;, the prime minister warned Polish, Mateusz Morawieki. “Energy is the biggest problem when it comes to financing Russia’s war, because we are buying energy from them and we have to get rid of the fossil fuels that come from Russia as soon as possible,” warned the Prime Minister of Finland, sanna marin.
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Another group of countries, on the other hand, think that the time has not come to hit Moscow so hard and that it is necessary to advance step by step. “With us there will be no embargo on oil and gas from the Russian Federation. It’s not realistic, but not only for Austrianeither for Bulgaria, Czechia, Slovakia or Hungary, all of us who are somehow affected by Russian gas. It is about guaranteeing the energy security of the Austrians”, the Austrian chancellor has settled, Karl Nehamer. On the same line are Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg or Belgiumwhose prime minister has acknowledged that these sanctions could have a “devastating effect & rdquor ;.
Before imposing new sanctions, the 27 are in favor of guaranteeing that the four rounds already adopted are applied effectively. In a joint declaration signed by Biden and von der Leyen, Washington and Brussels commit to “intensifying & rdquor; their efforts to coordinate the sanctions response and prevent Russia from escaping punishment. Both capitals also commit to mobilizing resources -1,000 million from the United States and 550 million from the EU- for humanitarian aid to Ukraine and to support the documentation work of experts on war crimes.