EU's stance on Russian gas remains unchanged, says Ursula von der Leyen
Photo: EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen (Getty Images)
The European Union continues its plan to phase out Russian gas to achieve energy independence, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. She emphasized the need to avoid potential loopholes for circumventing sanctions, reports The Guardian.
The EU remains committed to the plan of completely halting Russian gas imports, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on Sunday.
Speaking in Brussels, she underscored the importance of gradually moving away from Russian energy resources. She noted that this is "an absolute must" for ensuring the EU's energy independence.
"We’ve been successful, but we always see, of course, that there are loopholes where we have to be careful, and we have to work on," von der Leyen added, pointing to the need for further efforts to ensure the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia.
Refusal to supply gas from Russia
The European Union is developing a plan to fully cease importing Russian gas, despite concerns from Hungary and Slovakia, European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen stated.
She emphasized that the EU is actively working with member states to ensure energy security, particularly with Hungary and Slovakia, which have been most affected by the suspension of Russian gas transit through Ukraine. The EU is ready to support these countries in diversifying suppliers.
Itkonen also added that a roadmap for the complete phase-out of Russian gas will be presented soon.
