ICUV’s Director of Energy Advocacy, Victoria Voytsitska, joined an open letter by B4Ukraine and Razom We Stand to Dan Jørgensen, the newly appointed European Commissioner for Energy. Russia continues to export gas to Europe, directly funding its ongoing war against Ukraine. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russian fossil fuel exports have totaled €793 billion globally, with €207 billion from the EU market alone. All of this shows the urgent need to phase out Russian gas imports, including LNG.
Dear Commissioner Jørgensen,
On behalf of a broad coalition of Ukrainian and international civil society organizations, Business4Ukraine, we would like to extend our congratulations on your appointment as European Commissioner for Energy and Housing. We are confident that your leadership will advance the European Union’s energy transition and fortify its energy security during these critical times.
We wish to bring to your attention an issue of utmost importance: the urgent need for the EU to completely and rapidly phase out imports of Russian gas, particularly LNG. This step is essential to curtailing the Kremlin’s capacity to fund its unlawful war of aggression against Ukraine, which threatens not only our sovereignty but also European security and stability.
Russia’s revenues from fossil fuel exports, including LNG, continue to finance its military operations, with devastating consequences for Ukraine and global security. According to the latest estimates by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air, Russian fossil fuel export revenues amounted to €793 billion globally and €207 billion for the EU market since the start of full-scale invasion in Ukraine. A significant portion of these funds is derived from gas sales to Europe. By reducing dependency on Russian energy, the EU can decisively weaken this source of funding and send a clear signal of commitment to protect international law and solidarity with Ukraine.
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:
1. 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 incentivizing 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.
2. Support Ukrainian energy resilience: Provide direct financial and technical support for grid reinforcements, as well as to decentralized 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.
3. Strengthen EU-Ukraine energy partnership: Facilitate joint projects, including grid modernization 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.
On behalf of Business4Ukraine coalition members:
Eleanor Nichol, B4Ukraine
Svitlana Romanko, Razom We Stand
Sebastian Rotters, Urgewald
Victoria Voytsitska, International Center for Ukrainian Victory