European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament that the European Union will not change course on sanctions against Russia despite rising energy prices and geopolitical pressures.
Speaking during the plenary debate in Strasbourg, President Ursula von der Leyen warned that returning to Russian fossil fuels would be a “strategic mistake” that would leave Europe more vulnerable and dependent on Moscow.
The Commission president said that while some voices have called for easing sanctions to address energy price increases, the EU’s long-term strategy remains unchanged. She stressed that the bloc’s policy aims to reduce dependence on Russian energy and diversify supply sources across Europe.
Her comments come after oil and gas prices soared as a result of industry disruptions in the Gulf region, but have started to come down since then. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the US government is considering to unsaction some Russian oil to ease down oil prices.
The European Commission has a policy of sanctions packages targeting Russia’s energy exports as part of the EU’s response to the war in Ukraine. These measures have already reduced Europe’s imports of Russian oil significantly compared with levels before the invasion in 2022.
At the same time, governments across Europe have begun releasing oil from strategic reserves in an effort to mitigate price spikes. The releases are being coordinated with the International Energy Agency, which is also releasing strategic reserves.
Among the countries that have announced releases of oil reserves are France, Germany, Austria, Japan, and the United Kingdom. France has committed to releasing around 14.5 million barrels from its reserves, while other participating countries have pledged additional volumes as part of a coordinated release of approximately 400 million barrels of oil from strategic stockpiles.
Von der Leyen said that while Europe must address the impact of rising energy costs, abandoning the sanctions framework against Russia would weaken the EU’s strategic position and undermine its long-term energy independence.
President Von der Leyen also addressed the future of Europe’s energy market, saying the EU must accelerate the transition toward cleaner and more secure sources of power. She said nuclear energy remains part of the European energy mix, particularly for countries that rely on it to ensure stable electricity supply and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. At the same time, she emphasised the need to continue reforming Europe’s electricity market to better integrate renewable energy sources and stabilise prices for consumers across the bloc.
On Iran, she said she shed no tears over the Iranian regime but warned about the potential spillover of the conflict. She expressed solidarity with Cyprus, which has been targeted by Iranian drones and missiles, stressing that the security of Cyprus is also the security of Europe. She also warned that the war could have long-term consequences for the international rules-based system and cautioned that the global situation remains precarious
You can find the full transcript here.
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