Donald Trump was heard by Ursula von der Leyen. The European Commission presents a 19 Package of sanctions against Russia. Brussels will prohibit imports of Russian liquefied natural gas before January 1, 2027, one year before what the Reuters learned, confirming information from Bloomberg. This is the flagship measure of this package of European sanctions against Russia.
One of the sources said that LNG’s ban had become a “priority” after an appeal on Tuesday, September 16, between the president of the European Commission and the president of the United States. The EU had proposed to do it gradually without the Russian LNG before January 1, 2028, but Donald Trump urged the block to go faster.
The new European sanctions package should also attack more “ghost” ships used by Moscow to avoid restrictions that limit their oil exports, as well as cryptocurrencies, Russian and Central Asia banks, Chinese refineries and certain economic areas that allow Russia to import double -use equipment for their army.
Without restricting Vladimir Putin to sit at the negotiating table, the US president continues to strengthen pressure on the countries of the European Union, while the possibility of a rapid end of the war in Ukraine is moving away.
The EU is not completely destined by Russian hydrocarbons, even if it has significantly reduced its imports since 2022 and the invasion of Ukraine. The fourth buyer (1.2 billion euros) remained in August. But its imports represent only 8% of Russian’s energy income, according to data from the Pure Air Energy and Research Center (CREA).
Hungary and Slovakia in the viewfinder
In detail, EU countries mainly buy gas (61% of purchases), which serves as heating for almost a third of European citizens. However, two EU countries stand out: Hungary and Slovakia. These states without coastline in Central Europe, whose governments refuse to turn their backs on Russia, have obtained an exemption to continue receiving oil through a pipeline.
Viktor Orban Hungary remains, with much, the first European client in Russia (416 million euros in purchases in August), followed by Slovakia for Robert Fico (276 million euros in August). France is the third European destination (157 million euros last month), but only receives liquefied natural gas from Russia (LNG). It has many terminals that can reward LNG. Once treated, part, especially to Germany.
“American energy domination”
For Donald Trump, these pressures are not completely innocent. “The EU’s objective to gradually eliminate Russian fossil fuels align with the American energy domination policy,” observes Eamon Drumm, research analyst at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, with Euronews.
Through the recent customs duties agreement, EU countries have pledged to buy for $ 750 billion in American energy. American LNG imports have already doubled since the beginning of the war, according to data from the European Commission. Even more polluting than a gas transported by gasoline, the LNG is particularly harmful to the weather.
While thinking that this conflict would be “the easiest to resolve due to [ses] Relations with President Putin, “Donald Trump explained that” he dropped him, “during his state visit to the United Kingdom on Thursday, September 18. Since then, according to him, his chances of reaching a high fire fall.
He remarkably asked the European Union to impose Customs duty of 100% to China and India, the two main clients of Russia. This interrupts the current negotiations between New Delhi and Brussels on a commercial agreement. “Trump raises conditions that, knowing that it is impossible, will serve as a pretext to tell us that he cannot do anything. In other words, it is a game to avoid any responsibility,” observes a European diplomat in politician.
Source: BFM TV
