Ursula von der Leyen claims that the bloc is buying Russian oil in order to deny Putin a major war.
The president of the European Commission has said that despite EU countries’ promises to completely reduce their dependence on Russia, Russia continues to buy oil in order to prevent it from being sold elsewhere at unrefined prices.
The explanation came after MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski pressured Ursula von der Leyen in an interview on Monday about why the EU had not imposed a complete ban.
Von der Leyen reassured Brzezinski that the bloc’s long-term goal was to stop buying Russian fossil fuels and replace them with alternatives such as renewable or US-supplied liquefied natural gas. He says he made a mistake when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an attack on Ukraine. “He lost his best client, Europe.”
“We will never come back.” He said.
The TV presenter wondered if there would be a complete ban on oil trade with Russia “The most effective way to compress [Putin] That he has made a strategic failure. “. Von der Leyen said the EU needs to find out “The right balance” Between hitting Putin with sanctions and not hurting himself too much in the process.
“If we cut off oil immediately – as we do today – he could take the oil he does not sell to the European Union to world markets, where prices will rise, and sell and replenish at higher prices. His war is on,” he said. Von der Lane explained.
He admits that “Remaining Earth” In order not to act in the future, the United States and its allies had to join Russia to stay away from the same situation. So far, a large part of the global economy, including major power consumers such as China and India, has refused to support anti-Russian sanctions.
The MSNBC host suggested that the European Union should now consider implementing the same decoupling strategy in China, as Beijing may suggest. “Arm” Trade with the EU.
Von der Leyen said the EU-Russia relationship was strong “Unique” And said “Others were watching closely to see if we would win.” Economic war against Russia.
“So the Chinese issue is a little bit down the road, but it’s clearer now?” Brzezinski pressured. What can and should the United States and the United States do together to make China’s expansionist goals more effective economically and militarily?
Von der Leyen has already promised not to engage in more confrontation with China than with the EU, saying Europe would oppose Beijing on human rights, cooperate on climate change and compete economically.
Russia launched an offensive against Ukraine in late February, following Kiev’s failure to implement the terms of the first Minsk agreement, signed in 2014, and Moscow’s final recognition of Donetsk and the Donbass Republic of Lugansk. The German- and French-brokerage protocols were designed to give special status to isolated territories within the Ukrainian state.
The Kremlin has since demanded that Ukraine formally declare itself a neutral state that will never join the US-led NATO military bloc. Kyiv has insisted that the Russian invasion was completely unpleasant and has denied claims that they are planning to forcibly retake the two republics.
Western nations have responded to the crisis with a barrage of economic sanctions against Russia, which have been identified as a way to hurt its economy and to expand its military without directly fighting Russian troops in Ukraine. EU members have agreed to cut Russian coal and crude products, but the difficult-to-replace pipeline gas remains a stumbling block as the union discusses a sixth package of sanctions.
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