As Ukrainian President Zelensky makes a surprise visit to Chancellor Merz in Berlin, Ukrainians are urging Merz to halt the flow of German funds into the Kremlin’s war chest, fueled by German purchases of Russian LNG gas.
Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Executive Director of Razom We Stand, said: “We are thankful for German support for Ukraine, but Chancellor Merz must now stop buying Russian LNG gas, which effectively contributes to Russia’s war chest, resulting in the killing of people in my country every day. Chancellor Merz must stop purchases of Russian LNG gas, and put a final nail in the coffin of the Nord Stream Russian gas pipeline to Germany.
Germany has the technology and experience to finally cut ties with Putin-controlled Russian gas, which would bring real energy and national security. What German leadership lacks is the political determination to act. Cutting dependence on Russian fossil fuels is not only a matter of peace and security for Ukraine but for Germany and all of Europe. It’s time for a clean energy transition, and dismantling the economic foundations of Putin’s war machine.”
Facts, background, proposals for Germany:
German demand for Russian LNG has soared in the past year, with a 500% increase, effectively sending billions of euros to help fund Russian rockets and bombs that result in the killing of Ukrainians every day. Germany’s national energy company Sefe (formerly part of Gazprom) has been reported to have bought 58 cargoes of Russian LNG, piped via the French port of Dunkirk in 2024, six times more than in 2023. Between 3% and 9.2% of Germany’s gas supply still originates from Russia, reaching the country through other EU member ports.
Since the beginning of the war, Russia has earned EUR 870 billion in revenue from fossil fuel exports. European Union countries purchased over EUR 208 billion of these exports, including over EUR 100 billion on gas alone. Current problem areas are hundreds of still unsanctioned ships, including LNG tankers, and LNG purchases on spot markets, which must be banned.
Our recent study has found that the European Union has all the tools in place to cut its remaining reliance on Russian gas, titled “Getting Rid of Russian Gas Dependency in EU Member States: A Case-by-Case Approach,” It provides a country-by-country analysis showing that the transition is not just possible — it’s already underway in Germany.
Germany should implement multiple strategies to reduce Russian gas dependency, and bring more affordable clean energy that will bring true energy and national security:
- Stop wasting taxpayer funds to subsidise private LNG gas company profits, and instead use that money for faser buildout of cheaper clean energy.
- Scale up energy efficiency across residential, industrial, and power sectors.
- Accelerate the switch from fossil-based heating to electrified alternatives, established well before Russia’s full-scale invasion, but still underperformed in Germany
- Strengthening dynamic electricity pricing to cut peak-time gas reliance.
-ENDS–Razom We Stand is a Ukraine-based campaign group active internationally. It calls for a total and permanent embargo on Russian fossil fuels and an immediate end to all investment in Russian oil and gas companies by phasing out fossil fuels globally.
Svitlana Romanko has appeared in the top-tier international press, including Der Spiegel, Le Monde, Financial Times, Bloomberg, The Guardian, Washington Post, CNN, NBC, Newsweek, Politico, The Hill, Rolling Stone, and more.
Press contact:
Jason Kirkpatrick
Head of Communications
