Today, the Business4Ukraine coalition members, including Ukrainian peace and clean energy campaign group Razom We Stand, issued a powerful call to EU Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen to eliminate Russian gas imports and advance a resilient, renewable energy future.
The coalition’s open letter highlights the devastating impacts of Russian fossil fuel revenues, which have generated the Kremlin €793 billion globally—and €207 billion from the EU alone—since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. These revenues fund brutal attacks in Ukraine that have caused massive human suffering, with over a million casualties, and threaten global security.
The letter emphasises that while the EU’s REPowerEU plan aims to phase out Russian fossil fuels by 2027, immediate action is critical to closing loopholes and addressing concerning trends in Russian LNG imports through the spot market.
Dr Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Executive Director of Razom We Stand, said:
“The astronomical revenues Russia has reaped from fossil fuel exports over the past decade have not only fueled the militarization of the Kremlin and Putin’s genocidal war against Ukraine, but they also lie at the heart of a multi-faceted crisis threatening the rule of law, human rights, international trade, and global energy security. There can be no lasting peace or security in Europe while Russian gas and LNG continue to flow into the EU or select member states. We urge the European Commission to use every tool at its disposal to end this dangerous dependency. The long-term solutions for Europe’s energy security are clear—renewable energy and energy efficiency—and we believe these must take center stage in the EU-Ukraine energy partnership.”
To achieve the goals set out in REPowerEU and protect Europe and Ukraine from Russia’s direct and hybrid acts of aggression, we respectfully urge the European Commission to:
- End Russian gas imports: Implement measures to eliminate all Russian gas imports, both through pipelines and LNG, by establishing alternative supply chains, structurally reducing gas demand and incentivising renewable energy integration in heating systems. While working on a complete phase-out of Russian gas, it would be advisable to immediately introduce the War Tax on Russian LNG – a customs duty that would deprive Russia of profits on the European market, as well as to set a cap on the import volumes with regular downward revisions on a quarterly basis.
- Support Ukrainian energy resilience: Provide direct financial and technical support for grid reinforcements, as well as to decentralised renewable energy and energy efficiency projects for Ukrainian municipalities, particularly in regions liberated from Russian occupation. We advise the European Commission to set up mechanisms for on-demand access for Ukrainian municipalities to the EU funding for the design and implementation of local energy resilience projects, such as the modernisation of local energy infrastructure and the deployment of distributed energy resources.
- Strengthen EU-Ukraine energy partnership: Facilitate joint projects, including grid modernisation and expansion of interconnectors with EU member states, set up frameworks for cross-border renewable energy trade, support the introduction of net-zero-energy building standards in construction, and support technology transfer and joint research into innovative energy solutions.
Razom We Stand’s new research, outlined in its recent report Bridging the Gap Between Peace and Climate Action, shows that robust sanctions on Russian fossil fuels could cut Russia’s upstream greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030 and reduce 300 million tons of CO₂ annually if renewables replace Russian energy in Europe and Asia.
The coalition also highlights Ukraine’s immense renewable energy potential, estimating over 800 GW of untapped capacity in solar, wind, and other renewable sources. Integrating Ukraine’s clean energy resources into Europe’s energy system would not only support decarbonisation targets but also drive economic recovery and create jobs.
By taking decisive action now, the EU can protect international law, demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine by ending this war, and position itself as a global leader in climate action and energy security.
ENDS
You can view the full letter here.
Razom We Stand is an international campaign group based in Ukraine. We are dedicated to ending Russian fossil fuel-funded conflicts and climate chaos while driving a clean energy revolution in Ukraine and around the globe.
Svitlana Romanko has appeared in top-tier international press, including Financial Times, Politico, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, Le Monde, Bloomberg, Washington Post, CNN, NBC, The Hill and more.
