EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is not concerned regarding Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin’s attempts at blackmail in the energy sector. Since the beginning of the war, Putin had “repeatedly tried” to “blackmail and divide us by supplying energy,” von der Leyen told the daily “Kurier” (Sunday edition). “He will fail once more,” said von der Leyen. The EU Commission’s gas savings plan creates “a safety net for all member states”.
“Nobody should be freezing in Europe this winter,” emphasized von der Leyen. With the EU Commission’s proposal to reduce gas consumption by 15 percent between August 1 and March 31, “we can make it safely through the winter even if Russian gas supplies are completely interrupted,” she emphasized.
Von der Leyen clearly refused to normalize relations with the warmonger in the Kremlin. A normal relationship with Putin is “inconceivable,” she said. “Russia is one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Putin nevertheless unleashed this barbaric war. This breach of our peace order weighs heavily.”
The EU Commission is concerned regarding the consequences of the high energy prices, but there are a number of possible countermeasures. For example, EU states can use revenues from emissions trading to help low-income earners pay their energy bills, said von der Leyen. In addition, the Austrian boiler replacement program is being supported with funds from the EU Corona Fund.
Von der Leyen rejected calls for an end to EU support for Ukraine. What is at stake in Ukraine is “nothing less than preserving the European peace architecture”. “Ukraine alone will decide whether and how negotiations will be held with Russia,” said the former German defense minister, who also justified the billions in support for the attacked country. “Solidarity has its price, but the lack of solidarity costs much more.”
Even with the EU sanctions, it was clear from the start that these “also entail certain costs for us”. However, we try to keep this as low as possible. “Many of us have lived for decades with the self-image that there is peace and democracy in Europe for free. Putin put an abrupt end to this illusion on February 24,” said von der Leyen.
