Berlin: The German government stated that there is currently no initiative within the European Union to resume natural gas imports from Russia. This announcement comes amidst rising energy costs and increasing competition from Asia, which have prompted European businesses to press the EU to reconsider its stance on Russian gas imports.
According to Anadolu Agency, sources within the German Chancellery have indicated that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to announce a plan aimed at ending the purchase of all Russian fossil fuels, including natural gas and oil. This development underscores Germany’s position against shifting the bloc’s policy toward resuming Russian natural gas imports.
The outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war on February 24, 2022, has led to uncertainties in the supply of natural gas and oil, causing instability in energy markets. Despite recent remarks by US President Donald Trump regarding peace in Ukraine, which have raised expectations in Europe about the potential resumption of Russian gas imports, the German government remains firm in its stance.
Recent reports from German media have suggested potential US-Russia cooperation concerning the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which traverses the Baltic Sea but has never been operational. However, in 2022, Russia shut down the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, previously the primary gas supplier to Europe.
In response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Germany and the EU began to gradually halt Russian gas and oil imports starting in February 2022. Prior to the war, Germany relied heavily on Russian imports, with over half of its natural gas, 34% of its crude oil, and more than 50% of its coal sourced from Russia.