STOP Importing Dirty Coal, Oil, and Gas
The biggest European buyers of Russian energy exports turned a blind eye to Vladimir Putin’s crimes against human rights, the environment, and international law.
Russia’s energy policy has discriminated against Ukraine for years, using the Nord Stream 1 and the since-canceled Nord Stream 2 pipelines to bypass the country and weaken its position.
Part of Putin’s energy strategy prior to his invasion of Ukraine was to reduce gas imports to Europe, which resulted in high gas prices and a relative shortage.
After Russia started the war, EU energy companies quickly collected increased gas supplies, further pumping millions into the military machine
After Russia started the war, EU energy companies quickly collected increased gas supplies, further pumping millions into the military machine
Russia’s premeditated aggression created a sense of urgency to quickly collect contractually negotiated quantities for fear of imminent supply shortages or outages. European energy companies had long painted themselves into a corner, and even the horrific images of civilian death and destruction have not stopped them from pumping millions into Russia’s war machine.
The very same companies refused to begin transitioning out of fossil gas and have for years delayed the move to renewable energy sources.
This strategy has deepened the EU’s energy dependence on Russia. It has also directed exorbitant funds into state-controlled or state-aligned Russian companies. The profits have helped finance Putin’s attack on Ukraine, which began with the 2014 occupation of Crimea; his brutal intervention in Syria; his ever-growing nuclear weapons arsenal; and the security apparatus his regime has used to crack down on Russian civil society.