Razom We Stand is now well-established as the main voice against fossil fuel dictators and war profiteers. This piece builds on our earlier article that focused on our organization’s work in the framework of the UN Climate Summit COP27 and the green transition of Ukraine. Today we look more closely at our organization’s work on the energy sanctions adopted by the European Union and our ongoing efforts to influence energy giants continuing their work with russia.

Razom We Stand has achieved high impacts at the political level in the framework of the energy sanctions adopted by the European Union. Razom We Stand lobbied successfully for the adoption and enforcement of sanctions on exports of russian fossil fuels. Before the adoption of the 8th package of EU sanctions, in September 2022 the organization addressed a letter to the European Commission and the Council of the European Union calling for urgent and determined measures. As part of the 8th package of EU sanctions, the Council of the EU introduced a mechanism to cap russian oil prices for russian oil at global markets, supplementing the EU ban on russian oil imports adopted in June 2022. Razom We Stand also alerted European leaders that putin’s threat to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine is another clear warning that European money generated by russia can no longer be used to fund russia’s genocidal war. Our organization has also called for the immediate adoption and global scaling-up energy sanctions against russia.

Razom We Stand has also been highly active influencing energy giants and governments. For example, at public hearings in the US Congress on 19 September 2022 congressman Brad Sherman directly questioned the CEOs of JP Morgan and Citigroup about the continued business of their banks with russian fossil fuel companies and traders. This came just a month after we, together with international support, sparked the public attention to banks’ continued business in russia. Jointly with other organizations we called on EU and Norway governments to stop subsidizing the oil and gas industry as well as stop public funding for fake climate solutions. Furthermore, after our high-pressure legal case and public campaign, on December 9, 2022, Total Energies announced that they are stopping collaboration with russian gas company Novatek. Our cooperation with influential investigative reporters exposed the collaboration with russia by Wintershall Dea, covered in Germany's largest magazine Der Spiegel, which linked the company to possible contributors towards russian war crimes. Members of the Scottish Parliament questioned the subsidy that was given to the international oil & gas tech firm Baker Hughes that supplied equipment to russia. Contrary to its announcement last year, Baker Hughes continued to supply oil & gas technology to russia. We are pushing for the Scottish government to examine the case and hold accountable anyone who may have violated sanctions.

While the one year anniversary of the fossil fuel funded war on Ukraine is a tragic time, we at Razom We Stand are proud of the many achievements listed here that we've reached along with partners and supporters. We take these to heart as inspiration to achieve even more over the next year, and remain as passionate and committed as ever to continuing to struggle for the climate, peace, justice, and an end to the war in Ukraine.