Vladimir Putin’s regime has solidified its position as a major energy supplier to Europe, with the EU now importing more gas from Russia than from the US, reports Die Welt.
For the first time in almost two years, EU countries imported more gas from Russia than from the US in a single quarter, according to data from the Brussels-based consulting firm Bruegel. Between April and June, the EU imported 12.7 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia, compared to 12.3 billion cubic meters from the US.
Although Russian gas supplies saw a slight decline compared to the first quarter of 2024, the drop in US gas supplies was even more significant.
Austria recently highlighted the “huge risk” posed by a potential sudden cut-off of Russian natural gas, emphasizing the need to urgently reduce this dependency.
This development underscores the critical importance of strengthening sanctions against Russia due to its ongoing aggression against Ukraine. The EU’s continued reliance on Russian energy weakens the collective effort to hold Russia accountable and poses a threat to regional stability.
Furthermore, recent clashes in Russia’s Kursk region have driven up European gas prices, sparked by concerns over potential supply disruptions following Russia’s loss of control over the Sudzha gas metering station. This situation highlights the fragility of European energy security and reinforces the urgent need to diversify energy sources away from Russia.
