Today a number of influential Ukrainian civil society organizations in a joint open letter have called on the European Commission to introduce an embargo on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and secondary sanctions on technologies and services associated with LNG and LPG infrastructure.
Background information provided in the letter to EU leaders shows in detail that European countries boosted LNG imports by 60% in 2022 to make up for declining pipeline gas shipments from Russia, and that billions of euros continue to flow from EU countries to Russia. The letter further urges EU leaders to consider recommendations of the Energy and Utilities Committee of the Ukrainian Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, regarding introduction of secondary sanctions on companies providing technology and services for helping Russia export LNG, and implement them in the 12th sanctions package.
Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Director of Razom We Stand, said:
“If the EU wants to support Ukraine and end the suffering and brutal war crimes we suffer daily at the hands of Russia, then the EU has to stop sending billions of euros to the Kremlin’s war chests every time they buy Russian gas. I call on the President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen and other EU leaders to stop buying Russian gas, and to create a full, transparent and enforced embargo on Russian liquefied natural gas. If the EU is sincere about its commitments for climate action and ending war in Ukraine, then Russia's LNG expansion plans must go into oblivion following the Nord Stream pipelines."
Tweet here:
🔥🚫💰@vonderleyen, @KadriSimson, @McGuinnessEU, and David O'Sullivan, it is time for you to take seriously the embargo on Russian gas & petroleum: Stop Funding Putin's War! 💰🚫🔥
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At the beginning of July 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi called on EU member states to immediately start working on the 12th sanctions package. We believe that a full ban on Russian LNG should become part of it and has the potential to dramatically reduce Russian economic ability to wage war on Ukraine.
If the public is to believe the words of EU leaders, and they really want to stop Russia from its aggressive war on Ukraine, EU leaders must put their money where their mouths are, and fully sanction Russian gas now.
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CONTACT:
Jason Kirkpatrick
Senior Communications Manager, press@razomwestand.org
Notes to editors:
Ukrainian group Razom We Stand, founded at the beginning of Russia's war in 2022, campaigns to end the war by cutting Russia's exports of fossil fuels, has continuously advocated for a comprehensive and fully enforced embargo on all Russian fossil fuels and works towards a green rebuilding of Ukraine with clean energy, for a better climate and better future. Learn more here: https://razomwestand.org/en/about-us
Professional photos of Svitlana Romanko are available here, copyright free unless otherwise noted on image.
