By Ben Kerrigan-
A senior European Union official has expressed profound disappointment regarding the continued reliance of some member states on Moscow’s fuel supplies. European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas told Sky News it was a matter of “great regret” that European nations were still making EU Russian energy purchases.
This controversial issue has created sharp internal divisions. Interestingly, the Estonian former prime minister backed an unlikely ally, confirming President Donald Trump “has a point” when he criticises Europe for buying Russian energy.
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European Commission vice-president Kaja Kallas. Sky News
The Commission has proposed legislation aimed at phasing out Russian oil and gas imports entirely by January 1, 2028. Many European countries successfully halted importing Russian crude oil in 2022 and Russian fuel in 2023. However, crude imports by Hungary and Slovakia have unfortunately continued.
Ms. Kallas, who serves as the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, made a direct link between these transactions and the conflict. She stressed that dependence on Russian oil and gas actually fuels the ongoing war.
The Complexities of EU Russian Energy Purchases
Ms. Kallas believes sanctioning nations like Hungary or Slovakia is not the solution. She instead urged them to actively “build on the alternatives that neighbours are providing”. This would help them finally eliminate their Russian oil and gas reliance, precisely as President Trump has requested.
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Energy revenues remain the Kremlin’s single most important source of cash for financing its military operations, making these purchases a central target of Western policy. Officials and analysts are warning that aggressive curbs on Russian crude also risk driving up global oil prices. This scenario could strain Western economies and potentially weaken public support for sanctions.
The Slovakian foreign minister, Juraj Blanar, previously defended his nation’s position. He pointed out the hypocrisy of criticising his country when liquefied natural gas EU Russian energy purchases by Western European nations like France, Spain, and the Netherlands have increased by 30% over the last year. He argued the situation is far more nuanced than a simple black-and-white depiction. Despite this, Mr. Trump has maintained the US is prepared to impose energy sanctions against Russia only if all NATO countries commit to similar measures.
Slovakia’s foreign minister Juraj Blanar (R) speaks to Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Pic: AP
Further information about the ongoing debate is available on Sky News report.
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