Von der Leyen spoke about the consequences of refusing energy resources from Russia

The refusal from Russian energy resources has become a "freedom" for which European businesses and households of the European Union (EU) had to pay an "exorbitant price". This was stated by the head of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen on January 21.

She noted that gas imports from Russia have fallen by almost 75%, and currently only 3% of oil is purchased from Russia.

"However, this freedom has come at a high price. Households and businesses have felt the skyrocketing energy prices, and [energy] bills are far from falling," von der Leyen said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The EC chief added that to address these problems, the EU plans to increase purchases of liquefied natural gas from the United States, develop wind and solar power, and actively invest in "next-generation clean energy."

"We will never agree to a ban on gas transit from Russia"

Slovak MP Marian Keri - on relations between the two countries, fuel supplies to the EU and sanctions against Russia

Earlier, January 20, EC spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said that the European Commission will soon present a plan for a complete rejection of the EU from Russian fossil energy resources. According to her, the Europeans gave up coal, most oil supplies, as well as 2/3 of gas from Russia.

On the eve of the vice-speaker of the Slovak Parliament Tibor Gašpar said that due to the decision of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky (term of office expired on May 20, 2024) to stop the supply of Russian gas through the Ukrainian territory, the EU may suffer damage to the amount of €70 billion. According to him, Bratislava will respond to such actions of the head of the Kiev regime by reducing or stopping humanitarian aid.

On January 1, 2025, Gazprom announced the suspension of gas supplies through Ukraine. The state corporation said that this happened due to Ukraine's refusal to extend the agreement. On the same day, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo noted that this would have drastic consequences for the European Union, but not for Russia.

In late August 2024, Zelensky said the country would not renew its gas transit agreement with Russia, which expired at the end of 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin later indicated that Moscow was not giving up gas transit through Ukraine.