B4Ukraine partner Razom We Stand, along with over 100 organizations, has today formally appealed to the European Parliament to take quick decisive action against the continued purchase of Russian fossil fuels. The coalition has sent a letter to the newly elected European Parliament members urging them to support the imposition of a complete embargo on Russian gas by the end of 2024.
The letter emphasizes the urgent need to stop the financial flow from Europe to Russia, which continues to fuel the Kremlin’s war efforts against Ukraine. Despite existing sanctions, the EU member states remain one of the largest purchasers of Russian fossil fuels, contributing significantly to Russia’s war chest.
The EU was the fourth-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in May, its imports accounting for 13% (EUR 1.9 bn) of the top five purchasers. Pipeline gas made up the largest share of the EU’s purchases of Russia’s fossil fuels (45%), followed by LNG (27%) and crude oil via pipeline (22%). These numbers exceed the support provided to Ukraine by the EU.
Key Points from the Letter:
- End Financial Support for the War: The coalition calls for an immediate halt to European purchases of Russian fossil fuels, which are directly funding Putin’s war chest and costing the lives of thousands of innocent Ukrainian citizens.
- Inadequate Current Sanctions: The recent 14th sanctions package by the EU, although a step in the right direction, provides Russia with ample time to adapt, reducing its effectiveness.
- Environmental and Human Costs: Continued fossil fuel trade with Russia not only undermines EU energy independence but also leads to massive human casualties and environmental damage in Ukraine.
- Call for Immediate Action: The coalition urges the European Parliament to make eliminating Russian fossil fuel imports a top priority, calling for a full and transparent embargo by the end of 2024.
“We cannot allow European blood money to keep funding the destruction of Ukraine and this seemingly endless loss of innocent lives, as we have seen with last week’s tragic bombing of Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv. By imposing a complete embargo by the end of 2024 on Russian fossil fuel imports, especially LNG, the European Parliament can take a definitive stand against Putin’s war machine and make significant strides toward meeting global energy security and climate goals. We must act now to ensure EU member states taxpayers’ money does not continue to fund war crimes and the worsening climate crisis.” - said Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Director of Razom We Stand.
“The EU must wake up and implement measures that ban the purchase of Russian fossil fuels which are being used to finance Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Whilst Putin bombed a Ukrainian children’s hospital several days ago, the EU continues to buy EUR 67 million of Russian fossil fuels per day in the first half of 2024.” - said Isaac Levi, CREA.
“If Europe is serious about protecting its security and economic prosperity, it needs to put its immediate focus on defunding Russia’s war effort. The EU needs to close the existing sanctions loopholes and ban the flow of Russian gas into Europe, including a full embargo on Russian LNG by the end of 2024. After over two years since the full-scale invasion and ten since the start of Russia’s occupation of Ukraine, there is no more time to waste on incremental change. As Ukrainians are counting lost lives, the EU must demonstrate leadership through decisive action.” - said Irina Pavlova, spokesperson, B4Ukraine Coalition.