The United States insists that European Union countries must cease importing Russian energy resources if they seek stricter sanctions against the Russian Federation. This was stated by US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, emphasizing that funding from oil and gas sales supports the “military machine” of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
This is reported by Finway
American gas as an alternative to Russian energy
According to Wright, to fulfill mutual obligations under the trade agreement between the US and the EU, European countries could switch to importing American liquefied natural gas, gasoline, and other types of fossil fuels. This move would reduce dependence on Russian energy resources while simultaneously increasing economic pressure on Moscow.
Positions of individual EU countries and discussions on new sanctions
At the same time, Hungary, which remains one of the main buyers of Russian oil in the EU, claims that it has not received any official requests from the US President to stop purchasing Russian oil. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto notes that there are two groups of states in the EU: one publicly condemns Russia but purchases oil through Asian intermediaries, while the other, like Hungary and Slovakia, openly buys Russian oil.
“There are two groups of European states: the first insults the Russians but secretly buys oil from them through Asian intermediaries; the second consists of Hungary and Slovakia, which openly buy Russian oil.”
Meanwhile, discussions are ongoing in Brussels regarding the potential imposition of sanctions on China and other countries that purchase Russian oil. However, without US support, these initiatives are unlikely to gain approval.
For its part, the Kremlin assures that no sanctions will change Russia’s position regarding the war against Ukraine.