U.S. President Joe Biden announced a new initiative aimed at depriving Putin of European energy profits used to “bring driving his war machine.”
U.S. President Joe Biden announces an energy group with Europe to deprive Russian President Vladimir Putin of the income that was used to “run his war machine,” writes CNN .
Speaking in Brussels with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Biden said Russia is using its efforts to provide Europe with oil and gas to “coerce and manipulate its neighbors.”
< p>Biden said the United States will help Europe reduce its dependence on Russian oil and gas, as well as ensure that the continent has enough supplies for the next two winters.
“It will take some time to adjust the gas supply chains and infrastructure that have been built over the past decade, so we need to make sure families in Europe can survive this winter and the next as we build the infrastructure for a diversified, sustainable and clean energy future,” Biden said.
A panel chaired by representatives of the White House and the European Commission will aim to find alternative supplies of liquefied natural gas and reduce overall demand for gas.
Europe's dependence on Russian gas and oil has proven to be a major resting point in the West's efforts to punish Moscow for its intrusion to Ukraine. While the US has banned Russian energy imports, it has been much harder for Europe to cut off supplies.
“I know that eliminating Russian gas will have a cost to Europe, but not only is it morally right, it will put us on a stronger strategic footing,” Biden said.
The United States will work to supply Europe , at least 15 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas in 2022 in partnership with other countries, the White House said.
Senior administration officials said the 15 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas sent to Europe comes from multiple sources, including the United States and Asia. But officials didn't have a precise breakdown of where the gas comes from.
Friday's announcement was the culmination of US efforts in recent months to identify alternative energy sources for Europe, particularly in Asia. Officials said these efforts will continue this year to reach the 15 billion cubic meter target.
One official said that weaning Europe from Russian energy means “replacing an unreliable LNG supplier with a much more reliable supplier in the US” .
The group will also work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing methane emissions and using clean energy to operate.
“This crisis also presents an opportunity. It's a catalyst,” Biden said. “A catalyst that will fuel the investments we need to double our clean energy goals and accelerate progress towards our zero-emissions future.”
Von der Leyen called the common energy group a “big step” in efforts to diversify gas supplies from Russia.
“We want, as Europeans, to diversify away from Russia and towards suppliers we trust, who are friends and who are reliable, and so the US commitment to provide the European Union with at least 15 billion cubic meters of additional LNG this year is a big step. in this direction, because it will replace the LNG supplies that we currently receive from Russia,” von der Leyen said at a press conference.
The U.S. also committed to secure demand and supply for an additional 50 billion cubic meters of U.S. liquefied natural gas through 2030, which von der Leyen says will replace a third of Russian gas supplies to Europe.
This puts the bloc “now on track” way,” she said, emphasizing the need for the EU to secure supplies “not just for next winter, but for years to come.”
In addition, since the current gas infrastructure could be used to generate clean hydrogen in the future, it plays a role in decarbonizing our economy, she continued.
Cooperation between the EU and the US “shows the strength of our democracies” and Biden's presence in Europe sends “a powerful message to the world,” she added.
< p>Recall that during his address, President Zelensky separately addressed the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and called on the Hungarian leader not to hesitate in making decisions on sanctions, when in Ukraine Russian infidels are engaged in mass battles.
