Media: Poland sets sights on tightening EU sanctions on Russian oil, gas

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its third year, European Union nations continue to purchase substantial amounts of Russian oil and gas, unwittingly funding the Kremlin’s war efforts.

However, Poland, a staunch ally of Ukraine, is gearing up to lead a renewed EU push for stricter sanctions on Russian energy imports, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) and nuclear technology, Caliber.Az reports per Politico.

On January 1, 2024, Poland will assume the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, placing it in a prime position to influence the bloc’s policy. Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has been a vocal critic of EU member states' hesitance to enforce tougher sanctions, has expressed his intent to address the ongoing issue of Russian energy imports.

Despite EU-wide bans on certain Russian energy products, loopholes persist, with some countries still buying Russian fuel, thereby aiding Moscow’s financial capacity to wage war.

According to the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, the EU has spent over €200 billion on Russian oil and gas since the full-scale invasion began. While sanctions have had some impact, the demand for Russian fuel remains high.

Poland, with support from Ukraine’s leadership, aims to highlight the extent of these imports and target sectors still financing the Kremlin, including LNG and nuclear technology, which continue to feed Russian revenues.

Tusk’s government has long been an advocate for stricter sanctions. In February 2022, shortly after the invasion, he condemned EU countries that hesitated in imposing sanctions, calling them out for “disgracing themselves.”

Now, as Poland takes over the EU presidency, it will focus on enforcing transparency in energy imports, aiming to track the origins of fuel entering the EU. This effort is set to be backed by Belgium, where Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten emphasized the need to “track the molecules” of fuel to ensure it does not stem from Russian sources.

Furthermore, the European Commission plans to implement a new roadmap in early 2025 to phase out dependence on Russian energy, including both LNG and nuclear fuel. New restrictions on the reexport of Russian LNG, scheduled to come into effect in early 2024, will prevent EU countries from reselling Russian gas to other nations, further hindering Moscow’s energy revenues.

However, Hungary, under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, remains a significant obstacle. Budapest has forged a long-term energy agreement with Russia’s Rosatom to expand its nuclear sector, which Orbán has vehemently defended. As a result, any sanctions targeting Russian nuclear technology are likely to face strong opposition from Hungary, which could derail efforts for a unified EU stance.

Amid these challenges, the election of Donald Trump as the next U.S. president could further complicate the EU’s strategy. Trump has pledged to increase U.S. LNG exports to Europe, potentially creating an alternative to Russian fuel and diminishing Moscow’s leverage.

As EU leaders face these competing pressures, Poland’s presidency offers a crucial opportunity to tighten sanctions and reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian energy.

By Aghakazim Guliyev