EU Doubles Down on Ban as Kaja Kallas Rejects Push to Reopen Russian Energy Ties
The European Union is maintaining a firm line against resuming purchases of Russian fossil fuels, and Kaja Kallas has rejected a call from a Belgian leader to normalise ties with Moscow and seek cheaper Russian energy. Senior EU officials say the bloc will not relax its restrictions as it prepares a formal proposal to ban Russian oil.
EU Reaffirms No Return to Russian Gas or Oil
EU energy policymakers have resisted pressure from some member states to temporarily import Russian fossil fuels to ease surging prices tied to recent geopolitical conflict. The EU commissioner for energy stated the bloc will not re-engage with Russia to offset rising energy costs and emphasised the need to avoid indirectly financing Russia’s war effort. The same official said the Commission is set to announce a ban on Russian oil next month and ruled out structural reversals of the bloc’s energy phase-out.
Leaders pushing for a rethink include Hungary’s prime minister and a Belgian prime minister who argued for suspending sanctions to regain access to cheaper energy. The commissioner warned that repeating past dependence on Russian supplies would be a mistake, and used forceful language to underline the decision: Europe will not re-import Russian energy and will not import “as much as one molecule” from Russia.
Kaja Kallas Rejects Belgian PM’s Push To Normalise Moscow Ties
Kaja Kallas publicly rejected the Belgian prime minister’s appeal to normalise relations with Moscow and resume trade in Russian energy. Her stance aligns with recent statements from EU officials that returning to Russian oil and gas would be a strategic error for the bloc and could undermine efforts to avoid funding the conflict.
Amid these high-level disagreements, some capitals have grown frustrated with the Commission’s cautious approach as prices climb. The executive has also signalled support for coordinated releases of strategic reserves to ease market pressure.
Druzhba Pipeline Halt, Exemptions and What Comes Next
Separately, the halt in transit of Russian oil the Druzhba pipeline was described by the EU’s energy commissioner as not posing a threat to the bloc’s energy security, with alternative to be available. The Commissioner urged a timeline for when the pipeline will be operational again but reiterated the Commission’s intention to propose a full ban on Russian oil imports.
Current EU sanctions already prohibit Russian oil imports for most member states, though two countries are benefiting from exemptions. The planned proposal aims to remove those exemptions and requires member states to prepare for the change. Officials also noted international moves that affect the landscape, including temporary shifts in other governments’ sanctions policies.
For now, EU capitals will have to balance short-term consumer pain from higher prices with the political decision to avoid re-establishing reliance on Russian fossil fuels. The Commission’s forthcoming oil ban proposal and the unresolved timeline for Druzhba’s restart are the immediate steps to watch as member states assess their energy security plans.
