Earlier this month Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, grabbed headlines by travelling to Kyiv to demonstrate his solidarity with Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president. It was eye-catching, tub-thumping stuff. But if Johnson wants to support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, he should make a symbolic visit somewhere closer to home …
Read More »EU Steps Up Purchases of U.S. Oil
A cargo of 2 million barrels of U.S. crude oil arrived this month in Spain. It is, according to Bloomberg, the biggest U.S. oil cargo to arrive in Europe since at least 2016. But it may be only the beginning. Bloomberg reported on the arrival of the supertanker this week, …
Read More »EU Lawmakers Urge Germany to Accept Embargo on Russian Oil
A group of lawmakers from all political groups in the European Parliament has urged Germany to impose an embargo on Russian energy imports amid rumors that the EU would slap its sixth sanctions package later this week, according to a news report on Monday. In a letter dated Saturday and …
Read More »EU Begins Drafting Embargo on Russian Oil
The European Union has started drafting its proposal for an embargo on Russian oil imports as its latest response to the war in Ukraine, the New York Times reported, citing Brussels officials and diplomats. The embargo will most likely be introduced in a gradual way, similar to the planned Russian …
Read More »EU Set to Discuss Joint Gas Buying in Bid to Cut Russian Reliance
The leaders of the European Union member states are expected to discuss at their summit at the end of May the idea of jointly buying natural gas to avoid competing with each other for non-Russian supply as the EU seeks to cut its dependence on Moscow, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, …
Read More »New Sanctions Deal Fatal Blow to Russia’s Arctic LNG
The EU’s fifth round of sanctions against Russia following the its attack on Ukraine will hit hard on the country’s energy industry. Among the points in the restrictive measures is an export ban on goods such as quantum computers and advanced semiconductors, high-end electronics, software, sensitive machinery and transportation equipment. …
Read More »OPEC Tells EU It’s not Possible to Replace Potential Russian Oil Supply Loss
OPEC told the European Union on Monday (11 April) that current and future sanctions on Russia could create one of the worst ever oil supply shocks and it would be impossible to replace those volumes, and signalled it would not pump more. European Union officials held talks in Vienna with …
Read More »Hungary Escalates Spat with EU over Paying for Russian Gas
Hungary can pay for Russian natural gas without violating European Union sanctions against Russia, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a Facebook post in response to a warning from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Earlier this week Premier Viktor Orban said Hungary was ready to pay for Russian …
Read More »EU, Egypt to Boost Cooperation on Natural Gas
Egypt and the European Union will enhance cooperation in energy, the Egyptian cabinet said after a meeting between Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Frans Timmermans, the EU’s climate chief, in Cairo. The delegations discussed the potential supply of liquefied gas to Europe through regional partnerships in the short term, and …
Read More »Cutting off Russian Oil and Gas Supplies will Come at a Steep Cost
Over the past week, the world saw three major developments in the oil industry directly linked to the interests of three powers. Each wanted to push their own agenda and which is heralding successive changes in global relations and alliances. The developments came in the form of a three-act play …
Read More »