European Commission to wean off Russian oil, gas imports after Trump criticism

[Vambram]

The European Commission is working on a proposal to cut off Russian oil and gas imports after facing criticism for heavy dependence on Russian President Vladimir Putin for energy. A vote on the proposal is expected on May 6, though the exact date may change, a spokesperson for the commission told Fox News Digital.
"It will be a comprehensive plan to phase out Russian fossil fuels from the European energy market," spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said, declining to share any further details. The deal may include increasing U.S. natural gas imports, as Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen has suggested in the past.
The EU currently relies on the U.S. for about half of its LNG. President Donald Trump has said Europe should make up for the U.S. trade deficit by purchasing more U.S. fuel supplies.
"They’re going to have to buy their energy from us, because they need it," Trump said last week.

The EU spent roughly $23 billion on Russian oil and gas imports last year, surpassing the $19.6 billion it provided in financial aid to Ukraine, which was a point Trump criticized in his joint address to Congress last month.

European Commission to wean off Russian oil, gas imports after Trump criticism

The European Commission is expected to vote on a "comprehensive" strategy to cut off Russian oil and gas imports three years after the start of its war on Ukraine.

www.foxbusiness.com

 

[Vambram]

Here is more informative and less "Trump is great" source:

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/eu-plan-end-russian-oil-gas-imports-due-out-may-2025-04-14/

Thank you for that article. I particularly liked the following quote from it.

The delays were due in part to uncertainty around U.S. President Donald Trump's planned tariffs, with energy trade potentially factoring into EU-U.S. trade talks, EU sources told Reuters.
While Russian pipeline gas deliveries have plunged since 2022, the EU increased its imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) last year, and the bloc still got 19% of its total gas and LNG supply from Russia in 2024.
Unlike oil, the EU has not imposed sanctions on imports of Russian gas.
Hungary has vowed to block Russian energy sanctions, which require unanimous approval from EU countries, while some other governments have also signaled unwillingness to approve sanctions on Russian LNG before the EU secures alternative supplies.

The Commission has not indicated what tools it plans to propose to accelerate its Russian energy phase-out. Analysts at the Brussels-based Bruegel think tank have suggested the EU impose tariffs on Russian gas imports.
Quitting Russian gas entirely would mean more EU purchases from suppliers including the United States.
The EU has said it would consider buying more LNG from the United States, and Trump has said selling more energy to Europe would be a key focus of his administration's efforts to eliminate its trade deficit with the EU.
U.S. LNG helped to plug the Russian supply gap in Europe during the 2022 energy crisis. Last year, the U.S. was Europe's third-biggest gas supplier, after Russia and top supplier Norway.
But some businesses and EU diplomats are wary that reliance on U.S. gas has become a vulnerability, after Trump has indicated energy will be a bargaining chip in trade negotiations.

 

[DaisyDay]

Trump sagely asked for control of the Russian pipeline traversing Ukraine as his share of the booty in exchange for "peace".

US ‘demands control’ from Ukraine of key pipeline carrying Russian gas

Senior Kyiv economist describes latest position of Trump administration in talks as ‘colonial-type’ bullying

www.theguardian.com

The US has demanded control of a crucial pipeline in Ukraine used to send Russian gas to Europe, according to reports, in a move described as a colonial shakedown.

US and Ukrainian officials met on Friday to discuss White House proposals for a minerals deal. Donald Trump wants Kyiv to hand over its natural resources as “payback” in return for weapons delivered by the previous Biden administration.

Talks have become increasingly acrimonious, Reuters said. The latest US draft is more “maximalist” than the original version from February, which proposed giving Washington $500bn worth of rare metals, as well as oil and gas.​

What a deal maker!

 

[Vambram]

Trump sagely asked for control of the Russian pipeline traversing Ukraine as his share of the booty in exchange for "peace".

US ‘demands control’ from Ukraine of key pipeline carrying Russian gas

Senior Kyiv economist describes latest position of Trump administration in talks as ‘colonial-type’ bullying

www.theguardian.com

The US has demanded control of a crucial pipeline in Ukraine used to send Russian gas to Europe, according to reports, in a move described as a colonial shakedown.​

​

US and Ukrainian officials met on Friday to discuss White House proposals for a minerals deal. Donald Trump wants Kyiv to hand over its natural resources as “payback” in return for weapons delivered by the previous Biden administration.​

​

Talks have become increasingly acrimonious, Reuters said. The latest US draft is more “maximalist” than the original version from February, which proposed giving Washington $500bn worth of rare metals, as well as oil and gas.​

What a deal maker!

Perhaps Volodymyr Zelensky should have attempted to negotiate a better deal back in February when he met with President Trump back in February. Instead, he disrespected President Trump on camera for everyone to see.

 

[7thKeeper]

Perhaps Volodymyr Zelensky should have attempted to negotiate a better deal back in February when he met with President Trump back in February. Instead, he disrespected President Trump on camera for everyone to see.

That's a funny way to say that Trump and Vance were a bunch of asses.

 

[Vambram]

That's a funny way to say that Trump and Vance were a bunch of asses.

It is remarkable that you appear to believe that Zelensky was respectful, on camera, to the President of the United States of America.

 

[Hans Blaster]

The European Commission is working on a proposal to cut off Russian oil and gas imports after facing criticism for heavy dependence on Russian President Vladimir Putin for energy. A vote on the proposal is expected on May 6, though the exact date may change, a spokesperson for the commission told Fox News Digital.
"It will be a comprehensive plan to phase out Russian fossil fuels from the European energy market," spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said, declining to share any further details. The deal may include increasing U.S. natural gas imports, as Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen has suggested in the past.
The EU currently relies on the U.S. for about half of its LNG. President Donald Trump has said Europe should make up for the U.S. trade deficit by purchasing more U.S. fuel supplies.
"They’re going to have to buy their energy from us, because they need it," Trump said last week.

The EU spent roughly $23 billion on Russian oil and gas imports last year, surpassing the $19.6 billion it provided in financial aid to Ukraine, which was a point Trump criticized in his joint address to Congress last month.

European Commission to wean off Russian oil, gas imports after Trump criticism

The European Commission is expected to vote on a "comprehensive" strategy to cut off Russian oil and gas imports three years after the start of its war on Ukraine.

www.foxbusiness.com

That's a weird twist FoxBusinessNews has. Europe has been working for the last 3 years to get off Russian oil and gas.

 

[DaisyDay]

Perhaps Volodymyr Zelensky should have attempted to negotiate a better deal back in February when he met with President Trump back in February. Instead, he disrespected President Trump on camera for everyone to see.

Kick a man when he's down then steal his wallet and shoes - is this the great American way now?

 

[Vambram]

Kick a man when he's down then steal his wallet and shoes - is this the great American way now?

What is your answer to get a negotiation of peace between Russia and Ukraine that BOTH of those countries will not only accept, but also actually trust? I refuse to answer, what I believe, is a hyperbolic rhetorical question in post #8

 

[Vambram]

That's a weird twist FoxBusinessNews has. Europe has been working for the last 3 years to get off Russian oil and gas.

Perhaps you are correct. But I think that the stats suggest the opposite. Therefore, may I ask how much oil and gas Europe purchased from the USA on an annual basis these last 3 years? Is it true that Europe has actually purchased half of their oil and natural gas from the USA these previous 3 years?

 

[rambot]

Instead, he disrespected President Trump on camera for everyone to see.

I honestly don't understand why you'd play the "he disrespected Trump on camera".

Trump is constantly disrespecting people on camera.

I also don't understand HOW he disrespected trump. Why...with the clothes he wore? Was it that he didn't "say thank you"
Get out of here with your pedantic, childish, hypocritical complaints.


Gimme a GOOD example of him being disrespected. It seems that unless someone grovels to trump his supporters think he's being disrespected.

 

[rambot]

What is your answer to get a negotiation of peace between Russia and Ukraine that BOTH of those countries will not only accept, but also actually trust? I refuse to answer, what I believe, is a hyperbolic rhetorical question in post #8

I would put forward that wildly optimistic idea that perhaps the US needs to come across as less "raping and pillaging Ukraine and her resources" vibe.
What if it looked like Trump was ACTUALLY trying to broker a peace deal and NOT stick is hand in someone else's pie?

Trump had an opportunity to be a hero to the people of Ukraine...those few people who actively want the fighting to stop and russia to go away....but he wanted MORE for hte USA.

Too bad for him I guess.


The only time I've EVER heard of anything close to "paying back" is what happenned after WWI....and that didn't exactly turn out great for everyone in the end.

Nobody does this.

 

[Vambram]

I honestly don't understand why you'd play the "he disrespected Trump on camera".

Trump is constantly disrespecting people on camera.

I also don't understand HOW he disrespected trump. Why...with the clothes he wore? Was it that he didn't "say thank you"
Get out of here with your pedantic, childish, hypocritical complaints.


Gimme a GOOD example of him being disrespected. It seems that unless someone grovels to trump his supporters think he's being disrespected.

What Trump and Zelenskyy said during their heated argument in the Oval Office

"This is going to be great television. I will say that," President Donald Trump said after a minuteslong fight with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in front of cameras during a visit to the White House.

www.pbs.org

I read through this fair and balanced article from pbs.org. It's about a 5 minute read. Perhaps it will be useful and informative.

 

[Vambram]

I would put forward that wildly optimistic idea that perhaps the US needs to come across as less "raping and pillaging Ukraine and her resources" vibe.
What if it looked like Trump was ACTUALLY trying to broker a peace deal and NOT stick is hand in someone else's pie?

Trump had an opportunity to be a hero to the people of Ukraine...those few people who actively want the fighting to stop and russia to go away....but he wanted MORE for hte USA.

Too bad for him I guess.


The only time I've EVER heard of anything close to "paying back" is what happenned after WWI....and that didn't exactly turn out great for everyone in the end.

Nobody does this.

Please post a couple of specific ideas as to how you would have liked to see President Trump become a HERO to the people of Ukraine.

 

[rambot]

Please post a couple of specific ideas as to how you would have liked to see President Trump become a HERO to the people of Ukraine.

I already laid it out.
Had he not tried to grab 500BILLION of Ukraine's resources (I mean how could they rebuild if you take away anything that could give them income? It's so dumb!), perhaps Ukraine would become more ammendable to a peace deal.

So one specific idea:

Stop making this war about American Revenge of Ukraine. If he ACTUALLY would want peace, he wouldn't be trying to pillage Ukraine.


Not sure how much clearer I could be but let me know if I need to be clearer.

 

[rambot]

What Trump and Zelenskyy said during their heated argument in the Oval Office

"This is going to be great television. I will say that," President Donald Trump said after a minuteslong fight with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in front of cameras during a visit to the White House.

www.pbs.org

I read through this fair and balanced article from pbs.org. It's about a 5 minute read. Perhaps it will be useful and informative.

Honestly, I read that transcript. I see ABSOLUTELY nothing about "disrespect" in that communication.

Could you point out specific things YOU Felt were problematic.

I imagine there is one place that will be the common spot folks would get their back up over. But no...i still disagree.

 

[Laodicean60]

The stupidity of it all. They give money to Ukraine for bullets and also to Russia lol.

The EU spent roughly $23 billion on Russian oil and gas imports last year, surpassing the $19.6 billion it provided in financial aid to Ukraine, which was a point Trump criticized in his joint address to Congress last month.

In 2024, Russia accounted for 19% of the EU’s total gas and LNG supply, down from 45% before the war began. While the bloc has sanctioned Russian oil, it has stopped short of imposing financial penalties on gas imports.

 

[Hans Blaster]

The stupidity of it all. They give money to Ukraine for bullets and also to Russia lol.

The EU spent roughly $23 billion on Russian oil and gas imports last year, surpassing the $19.6 billion it provided in financial aid to Ukraine, which was a point Trump criticized in his joint address to Congress last month.

Giving things and purchasing things are *different*.

In 2024, Russia accounted for 19% of the EU’s total gas and LNG supply, down from 45% before the war began. While the bloc has sanctioned Russian oil, it has stopped short of imposing financial penalties on gas imports.

This answers a previous question posed in post #10

 

[Laodicean60]

Giving things and purchasing things are *different*.

Money for bullets, whether giving or purchasing the same. You aren't supposed to support the enemy financially in a war effort; just plain stupid.

This answers a previous question posed in post #10

Looks like they aren't using Russian oil but lng which will end in 2027.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/eu-plan-end-russian-oil-gas-imports-due-out-may-2025-04-14/

 

[Hans Blaster]

Money for bullets, whether giving or purchasing the same. You aren't supposed to support the enemy financially in a war effort; just plain stupid.

You want to hear something else "stupid" -- Ukraine has been earning transit fees for allowing Russian oil and gas to flow through their territory in pipelines.

There are these things call "contracts". Then there are the general expedience of availability and the cost of changing suppliers.

Finally, no it is not the same. Russian oil/gas revenue is not just "free money" given to Russia. It is for a product that costs Russia to produce. And the amount of oil/gas revenue Russia gained from Europe WENT DOWN. As the war progressed Russia had LESS MONEY from oil/gas sales to spend on its war effort, not more. The EU aid to Ukraine represented "new funds".

Looks like they aren't using Russian oil but lng which will end in 2027.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/eu-plan-end-russian-oil-gas-imports-due-out-may-2025-04-14/