Ukraine allies warn Europe against returning to Russian gas

Ukraine's closest allies have warned against reopening Russian gas pipelines in the European Union as part of a possible settlement of peace, as one of the Baltic state described the possibility as “not a good solution in any way.”

It comes shortly after I mentioned financial times European Union officials were considering restoring gas flows from Russia to Europe as part of a settlement to end the Kremlin years ago Ukraine war.

The report, which was published on January 30, and pointed to sources whose name was unveiled familiar with discussions, said that the idea was approved by some European Union officials as a way to reduce regional energy costs.

Estonia, a NATO The member who participates in the range of 294 km (183 miles) with Russia is among those who call the bloc 27 countries not to reopen Russian gas pipelines.

The Eastern European State said that the European Union should not allow itself to rely on Russian energy as part of the peace settlement in Ukraine, noting that gas recovery flows will not be compatible with the mass. goal The gradual disposal of Russian fossil fuel imports by 2027.

“We have seen in history that Russia has used energy as a weapon. Russia has shown this over and over again-and so on, the return is not a good solution in any way.” The goods section, tell CNBC via the video call.

Europe should have learned its lesson when the Russian forces Georgia invaded in 2008Elias-Hindawla from Estonia said, adding that the Ukrainian war has again emphasized the importance of finding alternative suppliers and improving energy independence in the bloc.

“Our position is very clear: we must increase sanctions and reduce energy imports in Russia as much as possible.”

Foreign ministries in Russia and Ukraine did not respond when contacting them by CNBC to comment.

For its part, the European Commission He said It “does not make any ties” between reopening Russian gas and Ukrainian peace conversations. The European Commission is the executive arm of the European Union.

“Whenever such talks took us, when that moment comes, it will be with Ukraine and we do not confirm any links reported in the article … about any links between crossing gas across Ukraine and any peace talks,” said European Union spokeswoman Paulaho. At a press conference on Thursday.

Penho said that the European Union's plan is still adhering to the gradual cleansing of Russian gas. Mass adopted The package of 15 sanctions against Russia late last year seeks to increase the weakening of Russian military and industrial capabilities.

Ukrainian President Folodimir Zelinski confirmed this message in an interview with Associated Press Earlier this month, the warning would be “very dangerous” to exclude Kiev from talks between the United States and Russia on how to end the invasion.

US President Donald Trump said on January 23 he was speaking during a virtual appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, US President Donald Trump said on January 23. I would like to meet With Russian President Vladimir Putin “soon” to find a way to end the Ukrainian war.

Former Liuigan Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsburgis said that the possibility of peace by relying on Russian gas was “one of the worst ideas in the history of the world.”

“The proposal to restore this catastrophic policy is nothing more than spitting on the graves of its innocent victims,” He said In the social media publication on January 30.

Even if the Ukraine war is terminated, the President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda has to caution The geographical position of his country can make him vulnerable to the wider conflict. The country of 2.8 million borders overlooks Russia Calingrad to the West and the Belarus ally in Moscow to the east.

Export Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine It came to stop At the beginning of 2025, on the occasion of the end of Moscow's dominance over decades on the energy markets in the region.

Zelinski in Ukraine said at the time that the end of the crossing of Russian gas across his country to Europe represents “one of the largest defeats of Moscow” and called on the United States to provide more gas to the region.

Russia, and at the same time, to caution European Union countries are likely to suffer more than the shift of the offer. Moscow is still able to send gas via the TURKSTREAM pipeline, which connects Russia to Hungary, Serbia and Turkey.

It also urged Poland, a strong Ukraine ally and another European country that shares limits with the Russian Kaliningrad, not to open Russian gas flows.

“I can only hope that European leaders will learn lessons from Russia's aggression against Ukraine and that they will pay a decision not to restore the pumping of gas through this pipeline.” He said In an interview with the BBC last month.

His comments indicated the Nord Stream 1 line, which connects Russia and northern Germany across the Baltic Sea.