Ukraine War: EU Faces US Pressure on Russian Energy

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, during a recent visit to Kyiv, has assured that the European Union will accelerate its move away from Russian gas and oil. This push comes amidst demands from United States President Donald Trump for a tougher stance, a policy that could clash with the economic interests of EU member states like Hungary and Slovakia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, insists that European capitals should prioritize Kyiv’s needs over their own domestic concerns.

Speaking before the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, Metsola announced the opening of a permanent European Parliament office in Kyiv, framing it as the next step on the country’s path to EU membership. She emphasized, however, that progress is contingent on the restoration of full powers to Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies, a pointed reminder of a recent controversial attempt by Kyiv to undermine the independence of these institutions, which was ultimately reversed after public protests.

In her address, Metsola reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to a “real” peace for Ukraine and confirmed that Brussels would continue its pressure on Moscow, with a 19th package of sanctions under consideration. “We are continuing to move away from Russian gas and Russian oil. And we will also address issues related to the shadow fleet, and do it faster,” she stated. This sentiment was echoed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who, after a call with President Trump, noted the EU would propose speeding up the phase-out of Russian oil imports to choke off a key revenue stream for the Kremlin.

The renewed pressure from Washington has put landlocked Hungary and Slovakia in a precarious position. President Trump has reportedly called for all NATO countries to completely halt purchases of Russian oil, and has also demanded that EU nations impose 50% tariffs on trade with China and India. Both Budapest and Bratislava remain dependent on Russian oil delivered via pipeline, making a complete and immediate cutoff a significant economic challenge.

From Kyiv’s perspective, compliance is not negotiable. Ukrainian media has reported on an EU Commission proposal to completely end Russian natural gas imports by 2027, closing a loophole for Hungary and Slovakia. Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ogryzko voiced confidence that both nations would ultimately be forced to abandon Russian energy. “With all due respect to Hungary and Slovakia, they are not the key countries that determine what happens in Europe and the world,” he argued, suggesting that if more significant global players heed Trump’s calls, these smaller nations will have no choice but to follow.

Despite the political pressure, some experts remain skeptical about the feasibility of a total embargo. Alexander Kotov, a senior researcher at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Europe, points out that the geographical and logistical dependence of Hungary and Slovakia on Russian pipelines is an objective reality. He notes that the European Commission can only make recommendations, citing how national governments in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands continued to import Russian LNG despite Brussels’ advice to the contrary. Total EU purchases of Russian LNG have barely decreased since 2022.

Kotov suggests a strategic motive behind the American push, speculating that Washington aims to compel Europe to switch to more expensive US-supplied LNG. He interprets President Trump’s actions as a maneuver to shift the primary burden of sanctions and support for Ukraine onto Europe. If European allies fail to adopt these economically painful measures, Trump could then justify refraining from imposing new US sanctions himself, a position complicated by the fact that American companies are reportedly increasing imports of certain Russian goods, such as fertilizers, even as the administration targets Russia’s Arctic energy projects and its ‘shadow fleet’ of oil tankers.