EU threatens to import Russian gas in huge Ukraine betrayal

The EU could import gas from Russia. (Image: Getty)

The EU could begin importing some gas from Russia as Donald Trump stirs fears of fragile energy security in the bloc. Europe relied heavily on US oil following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine over three years ago, but the president has made this relationship unstable. The pledge to end Russian energy imports by 2027 has left the EU with limited options as talks with Qatar stalled and the development of renewables is not quick enough.

Didier Holleaux, executive vice-president at France's Engie, explained that "reasonable peace" in Ukraine must be reached before negotiations regarding Russian oil can begin. He told Reuters: "If there is a reasonable peace in Ukraine, we could go back to flows of 60 billion cubic metres, maybe 70, annually, including LNG [liquefied natural gas]."

The EU pledged to end Russian energy imports by 2027. (Image: Getty)

However, Christof Guenther, managing director of chemical plant operator InfraLeuna, stressed the urgency of the situation.

He said: "We are in a severe crisis and can’t wait. Reopening pipelines would reduce prices more than any current subsidy programmes."

While he acknowledged it was "a taboo topic", he said many of his colleagues agreed on the need to go back to Russian gas.

In Germany's Leuna Chemical Park, Russia used to cover 60% of gas needed in the local area, the majority of which came through the Nord Stream pipeline before it was blown up in 2-22.

Now, the German chemical industry has been forced to slash jobs for five quarters in a row, which hasn't happened for decades.

In France, Patrick Pouyanne, head of oil company TotalEnergies, warned against being overly reliant on US gas. TotalEnergies is a large exporter of US LNG and sells Russian LNG from private firm Novatek.

He said: "We need to diversify, many routes, not over-rely on one or two. Europe will never go back to importing 150 billion cubic meters from Russia like before the war...but I would bet maybe 70 bcm."

France has one of the most diversified energy supplies in Europe. whereas Germany strongly relied on Russian gas for its manufacturing sector until the war.

If a trade war between the EU and US escalates, Washington to could withold some LNG exports, claimed Arne Lohmann Rasmussen, chief analyst at Global Risk Management.

A senior EU diplomat agreed, saying no one could rule out "that this leverage is used".