As EU leaders meet today to discuss enhanced defence capacity and reaffirm support for Ukraine, Ukrainian Climate Campaign Group Razom We Stand welcomes these commitments but urges immediate action to ban Russian LNG and dismantle the Kremlin’s shadow fleet.
“Every euro spent on Russian gas funds more missiles raining down on Ukrainian cities, costing the lives of thousands of innocent civilians,” said Svitlana Romanko, Executive Director of Razom We Stand. “EU leaders speak of strengthening Europe and Ukraine’s defence, yet European nations paid over €205 billion for Russian fossil fuels since the full-scale invasion began—including €99 million on gas alone. This double standard must end. Without cutting off Russia’s energy revenue, Europe is prolonging the very war it claims to oppose.
Europe has the power to starve Putin’s war machine—if it has the political will to act. Words of support mean little when billions still flow to the Kremlin. The time for half-measures is over—EU leaders must act decisively to stop financing Russia’s war.”
In 2024, Europe imported 18.5 billion cubic meters of Russian LNG, with purchases surging to 7.32bn. setting a new record. Major buyers like Spain, Belgium, and France continue to prop up Russia’s fossil fuel economy, directly funding the terror campaign that has taken thousands of innocent Ukrainian lives.
The notion that Europe depends on Russian energy is outdated. In 2024, renewables supplied nearly 47% of the EU’s electricity. The €300 billion REPowerEU plan is accelerating this shift, proving the transition from fossil fuels is already underway.
Leading economic research institutes, including DIW Berlin, confirm that even the most gas-dependent EU countries, Austria and Hungary included, could fully phase out Russian LNG. With a robust mix of renewables, energy-efficient measures, and diversified energy imports from other countries, Germany can completely eliminate Russian fossil fuel reliance.
Razom We Stand calls on EU leaders to:
- Implement a full ban on Russian LNG imports to end Europe’s financing of Russia’s war.
- Crackdown on the shadow fleet by sanctioning all vessels transporting Russian oil and gas without proper insurance.
- Align sanctions enforcement across the EU, UK, and G7 to close loopholes that allow Russian fossil fuel revenues to flow.
ENDS
We’d be happy to provide further insights into what Europe needs to do to support Ukraine or arrange an interview with Dr Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Executive Director of Razom We Stand, to discuss the findings in more detail.
Razom We Stand is a Ukrainian clean energy campaign group active internationally, calling for a total and permanent embargo on Russian fossil fuels and an immediate end to all investment into Russian oil and gas companies by phasing out fossil fuels globally.
Svitlana Romanko has appeared in the top-tier international press, including Financial Times, Bloomberg, Washington Post, CNN, NBC, Newsweek, Politico, The Hill, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, Le Monde and more.
Press Contact:
Paraic Walker, [email protected]
Communications Specialist, Razom We Stand
