ReadNOW

Ursula von der Leyen has ruled out, in no uncertain terms, the possibility of resuming purchases of Russian fossil fuels after the conclusion of the war in Ukraine, warning that doing so would represent a “mistake of historic dimensions” for Europe.

“To be very clear: the era of Russian fossil fuels in Europe is coming to an end,” the president of the European Commission said on Wednesday morning as she addressed lawmakers in Strasbourg.

Her categorical refusal comes amid Donald Trump’s push to strike a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, an effort that has seen the White House embrace many of the Kremlin’s talking points, including its claims to Crimea and the occupied territories.

Trump’s diplomacy has stoked speculation that Russian energy might be part of a future settlement, given the fundamental role that fossil fuel exports play in Moscow’s budget and Vladimir Putin’s desire to revive his precarious economy.

For decades, the EU was Russia’s largest client, but the multi-billion commercial relationship collapsed in early 2022 after Putin launched the full-scale invasion. Since then, the bloc has adopted unprecedented measures to cut down consumption of Russian fossil fuels, including sweeping bans on coal and seaborne oil.

With US officials publicly dangling the prospect of sanctions relief as an incentive to make the Russian president accept a lasting ceasefire, which he has so far rebuffed, the EU’s own set of restrictions is poised to come under scrutiny.

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the ongoing rapprochement between Washington and Moscow has touched upon the future of the Nord Stream pipelines, which connect Russia and Germany and are currently closed.

“It will probably be interesting if the Americans use their influence on Europe and force it not to refuse Russian gas,” Lavrov said in late March.

But on Wednesday, von der Leyen firmly drew a red line in the sand.

“Some are still saying that we should reopen the tap of Russian gas and oil. This would be a mistake of historic dimensions. And we will never let it happen,” she said.

“Russia has proven, time and again, that it is not a reliable supplier. Putin has already cut gas flows to Europe in 2006, 2009, 2014, 2021, and throughout the war. How many times before they learn the lesson?” she went on.

“Dependency on Russia is not only bad for our security, but also for our economy. Our energy prices cannot be dictated by a hostile neighbour.”

An ambitious roadmap

Despite the collective undertaking, some Russian fuels are still making their way into the bloc’s economy. Last year, the 27 member states spent €23 billion on Russian energy, surpassing the amount of military assistance provided to Ukraine.

The flows of liquefied natural gas (LNG) have become a source of friction, as they have not only continued unimpeded but moved at even higher volumes.

According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), EU imports of Russian LNG in 2024 increased by 9% compared to the previous year. Almost 90% of these purchases arrived in France (7.7 bcm), Spain (5.7 bcm) and Belgium (5.1 bcm).

“Russia is hugely reliant on the EU market for its gas exports, providing 52% of its LNG export revenue,” CREA said in an April report.

Seeking to close remaining loopholes, the Commission has presented an ambitious roadmap to eliminate all purchases of Russian energy, including LNG, pipeline oil and nuclear materials, by the end of 2027 at the very latest.

The new plan envisages a prohibition on imports of Russian gas that EU firms will use to invoke force majeure and break long-term contracts with suppliers. These contracts are governed under “take-or-pay” terms that entail hefty penalties for non-compliance.

Unlike sanctions, which require unanimity and are vulnerable to national vetoes, the bans on Russian gas will be based on energy and trade policy, where only a qualified majority is needed. Hungary and Slovakia, two landlocked countries that still rely on Moscow, have already criticised the roadmap, saying it would imperil the EU’s competitiveness.

Speaking before the European Parliament, an institution that has long called for the complete phase-out of Russian fuels, von der Leyen stuck to her strategy, depicting it as an indispensable element to guarantee a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

“We must do our utmost to strengthen Ukraine’s hand. Because we have all seen how Russia negotiates. They bomb. They bully. They bury promises beneath rubble,” she said.

“Putin wants to force Ukraine into accepting the unacceptable. So the task we face is to help Ukraine stand strong, defy Putin’s intimidation, and engage in peace talks based on its own conditions.”