The leaders of Germany, Britain and the Netherlands cautioned Monday against abruptly banning Russian energy imports as part of sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, saying there were no immediate alternative supplies.

The pushback came after the United States on Sunday said it was in “active discussions” with European nations about shutting down Russian oil imports as a further economic penalty over Moscow’s aggression.

“Europe has deliberately exempted energy supplies from Russia from sanctions,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a statement.

“Supplying Europe with energy for heat generation, mobility, electricity supply and industry cannot be secured in any other way at the moment,” he said.

“It is therefore of essential importance for the provision of public services and the daily lives of our citizens.”

Russia is one of the world’s biggest crude producers and is also a leading supplier of natural gas.

Europe’s top economy Germany is heavily dependent on Russian fossil fuels, importing an estimated 55 per cent of its gas and 40 per cent of its oil and coal from Russia.

Like other European nations, Germany has vowed to wean itself off Russian energy by boosting the use of renewables, but the government has stressed that the switch will take time.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, speaking at the same press conference, agreed that the energy transformation would “take time”.

“The painful reality is we are still very much dependent on Russian gas and Russian oil,” he said.

Cutting off Russian energy imports without ready alternatives could “generate unmanageable risks” for European economies, he warned.

“We have to be very clear and make no mistakes here.

“This is a step by step approach and that means that we have to make sure that the energy supplies in this part of the world, again, including Ukraine, but also the rest of the world are not hindered.”

SecretAgent7706:

https://punchng.com/ukraine-european-leaders-oppose-banning-russian-energy-imports/?amp

Lalasticlala

https://punchng.com/ukraine-european-leaders-oppose-banning-russian-energy-imports/?amp

...“The painful reality is we are still very much dependent on Russian gas and Russian oil,” he said.

Cutting off Russian energy imports without ready alternatives could “generate unmanageable risks” for European economies, he warned."

...

SecretAgent7706:
They are opposing what will benefit them, hypocrisy. Russia is SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT. You think V-Putin will just woke up and start a war without knowing the consequences that will visit him. He dared the world yet the so called Toothless Dogs can't do without him. Bunch of hypocrites, you want justice for Ukraine but you can't sacrifice any of your comforts? So you're just using Ukraine as pawn just to get at Russia?

Esseite:
It was only a matter of time... US is about to loose monopoly to the Chinese Union pay as alternative to its Master and Visa card. That's a very wrong move because its spread would be hastened amongst countries rapidly having dominated a whole European country.

qekng40:
Putin just smiled!

hodari:

Not only that, but there will be a shift away from the SWIFT money transfer system to the Chinese CIPS.

This Ukraine crisis has taught the world a lesson: countries must diversify their geopolitical risk because the West is now currently run by "woke" madmen / women.

helinues:
Hypocrisy Usa met with Venezuelan president, Maduro over the weekend, that's same Venezuela under different Usa sanctions. Oil price is getting higher daily in Usa

obailala:


@Tip101, I think you need to read this report to better understand the situation.

seunny4lif:
USA sent delegates to Venezuela president after same USA said Venezuela president is illegal president and they want to take him out but China and Russia were their to block it.
Russia and China sent money and Russia even trained Venezuela troops.
USA want to remove all the sanctions on Iran and Venezuela to help with gas price.