Munich, Germany / Kyiv, Ukraine – As world leaders gather at the Munich Security Conference today, Ukrainian organisation Razom We Stand warns that Putin’s war on Ukraine – and hybrid Russian threats across Europe – can only be stopped by choking off Moscow’s fossil fuel revenues. Dr Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Executive Director of Razom We Stand, is in Munich throughout the conference and available for interviews on energy security, Russian influence, and the path to clean energy independence and security.
Europe remains vulnerable while Russian shadow fleet tankers dodge sanctions and UK-based firms like Seapeak and London insurers keep the Kremlin’s war chest full. With Russia hammering Ukraine’s energy grid in -20°C weather, every cargo of Russian oil or LNG gas funds the missiles. What is needed are stronger measures against Russia, including a complete Maritime Services ban as a part of the coming EU 20th Sanctions Package, expected for completion on 24 February, the fourth anniversary of Russia’s war.
Dr. Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Executive Director of Razom We Stand, said,
“True security starts with energy independence. Europe must build resilient clean energy networks – not cling to the fossil fuels that bankroll Putin’s aggression. In the UK, schools and even No. 10 Downing Street still use Russia-friendlly TotalEnergies gas, despite their stake in Russia’s Yamal LNG plant. Across Europe, including France, Spain, and Greece, companies continue shipping, servicing, and insuring the Russian fossil fuel trade, helping raise money for Russia that funds Ukrainian misery despite our efforts to stay strong and win the war.
Contracts like these must end now. Renewables deliver cheaper power, jobs and sovereignty – wind and solar already supply massive amounts of electricity at half the cost of new gas.”
Razom We Stand calls on EU leaders to take urgent action:
- Introduce a full and transparent embargo on Russian LNG
- Close transit and transshipment loopholes with a strong Maritime Services ban
- Tougher enforcement with ship inspections and seizures, like the US, UK, France and Germany are already doing inconsistently.
- Closing the refining loophole: ban on imports of oil products from refineries in third countries that process Russian crude oil.
