European officials are discussing the possibility of ending russia’s war against Ukraine in exchange for resuming purchases of russian gas.
The Financial Times reported this, citing sources familiar with the discussions.
According to supporters of this idea, resuming gas supplies to Europe could help settle relations with Moscow and reduce the EU’s electricity costs. According to the sources, discussing sales of russian pipeline gas to the EU could be part of a potential settlement to the situation with russian aggression.
"Supporters of buying russian gas argue that it would lower high energy prices in Europe, encourage Moscow to come to the negotiating table and give both sides a reason to implement and maintain a ceasefire. But the idea of resuming russian gas flows to Europe, even in preliminary discussions, has already provoked a negative reaction among Ukraine's closest allies in the EU," the article says.
The idea has been supported by some German and Hungarian officials, with others supporting it as a way to reduce European energy costs. The announcement of the possibility has angered Brussels and diplomats from some Eastern European countries, many of which have been working to reduce their dependence on russian energy for the past three years. But opponents say that resuming russian gas exports to Europe would significantly increase Moscow's revenues.
Before the war, gas supplies from russia accounted for about 40% of the EU's total, with Germany the largest importer.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, in January, 10 European Union countries proposed strengthening sanctions against the aggressor state of russia by introducing further restrictions on natural gas.
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