Ursula von der Leyen has ruled out, in no uncertain terms, the possibility of resuming purchases of Russian fossil fuels after the conclusion of the war in Ukraine, warning that doing so would represent a “mistake of historic dimensions” for Europe, Euronews reports.
“To be very clear: the era of Russian fossil fuels in Europe is coming to an end,” the president of the European Commission said on Wednesday morning as she addressed lawmakers in Strasbourg.
Her categorical refusal comes amid Donald Trump’s push to strike a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, an effort that has seen the White House embrace many of the Kremlin’s talking points, including its claims to Crimea and the occupied territories.
Trump’s diplomacy has stoked speculation that Russian energy might be part of a future settlement, given the fundamental role that fossil fuel exports play in Moscow’s budget and Vladimir Putin’s desire to revive his precarious economy.