“Buying energy resources from Russia is like buying weapons to use against Ukraine,” says Mirosława Nykiel, a Polish MEP from the Civic Platform (PO) party. That is why the European Commission (EC) plans to reduce imports of Russian fuels to zero by 2027. Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, an MEP from The New Left, believes this decision should have been made long ago—but better late than never. Moreover, EU member states must present the most unified front possible on the matter.
On May 6, the European Commission presented a roadmap aimed at completely ending imports of Russian energy resources—oil, gas, and uranium—into the EU by the end of 2027.
“This is a step in the right direction—a full phaseout of gas and LNG imports by 2027. It’s extremely important that we follow this path,” Nykiel told Newseria. “Renewable energy will play a key role. According to the REPowerEU plan, we aim for renewables to make up 45% of the EU’s energy mix by 2030. In Poland, renewables currently make up just over 30%, and 60% of our energy still comes from coal. These are realistic and necessary goals because Russia has shown no real intention to end the war. Buying energy resources from Russia is like buying weapons—possibly not only against Ukraine, but against other EU countries in the future.”
According to the Commission, between 2021 and 2024, EU imports of Russian gas dropped from 150 billion cubic meters to 52 billion, and Russia’s share of the EU gas market fell from 45% to 19%. All Russian coal imports were banned under sanctions, and oil imports dropped from 27% at the beginning of 2022 to 3% today. Member states still using Russian-designed VVER nuclear reactors have made progress in switching to alternative fuel suppliers.
The roadmap for the coming years aims to phase out Russian energy imports while maintaining supply security and avoiding adverse impacts on prices and markets. Global LNG supply is expected to grow rapidly this year, while EU demand for gas will fall. The Commission anticipates that by 2030, the EU will have replaced up to 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas, reducing demand by 40–50 billion cubic meters by 2027. Meanwhile, global LNG capacity is projected to expand by 200 billion cubic meters by 2028—five times the current volume of Russian gas imported into the EU. Legal instruments to implement the roadmap will be proposed by the Commission in June.
“We need to set ambitious goals. When the war broke out in Ukraine, many doubted we’d make it through winter without shortages or that gas storage would be full—but we succeeded,” said Nykiel. “Before the war, the EU was Russia’s biggest energy market. Losing that market damages Russia’s economy. A weakened economy means less ability to threaten neighboring countries like Ukraine. In short, this limits Russia’s capacity for barbaric aggression.”
“The roadmap should have been introduced earlier. In fact, it should have been implemented already,” added Scheuring-Wielgus. “We had three years to act. It’s good that it’s finally happening—but it’s unfortunate that it took this long.”
The roadmap is only one element of the EU’s broader support for Ukraine and its unified stance on the war.
“The EU must remain strong and unified in its voice when it comes to supporting Ukraine. This includes financial aid, defense and military assistance, and ending dependence on Russian energy. But we must not forget to seek accountability for war crimes,” said Scheuring-Wielgus. “The EU must take a firm stand—we must not ignore the atrocities taking place.”
On May 9, Europe Day, participants in the Ukraine–EU summit in Lviv expressed support for the creation of a Special Tribunal within the Council of Europe to prosecute crimes against Ukraine. This tribunal will have the authority to investigate, prosecute, and try Russia’s political and military leaders responsible for the crime of aggression. It is now up to the Council of Europe to establish the legal framework for the tribunal’s operation.
“As Europeans, as the European Union, we have nothing to be ashamed of in terms of our strength and unity. The EU, made up of 27 member states, has provided the most support to Ukraine. The facts speak for themselves. But we must do even more—and when we act as one, we can influence the United States, China, India, and other countries to understand that if peace in Ukraine fails, things could get even worse,” emphasized Scheuring-Wielgus. “After the election of Donald Trump and the resulting uncertainty around U.S. support for Ukraine, it’s all the more important that Europe acts with unity. This also means that other European countries must follow Poland’s example—because when it comes to military aid, Poland is leading the way.”
