As Russia’s offensive in the Donbass region and southern Ukraine continues, Western allies have pledged to intensify heavy arms shipments and other support for Kyiv’s government. Last Thursday, for example, US President Joe Biden pledged another $33 billion in support. Meanwhile, the European Union is finalizing its sixth sanctions package, and preparations are being made for a ban on Russian oil imports. Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Robert Habeck, declared that the country could make itself independent from Russian oil “within days.”
To sow discord within the EU, Russia cut off gas to Poland and Bulgaria and refused a payment in euro from a gas utility controlled by the German state. Amid a lack of clarity on how far European buyers can go without breaching EU sanctions, a special meeting of the bloc’s energy ministers was called. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he is preparing for a situation in which Russian gas supplies are stopped, arguing it was impossible to guess how President Putin will behave. In addition to providing an update on the military situation, we will discuss the EU’s oil embargo, the security of gas supplies in Germany and Europe, and the economic impact of EU sanctions and Moscow’s countermeasures.
Speakers:
Dr. Maria Demertzis, Deputy Director, Bruegel
Prof. Dr. Andreas Goldthau, Associate Fellow, Geo-Economics Program, DGAP; and Director of the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, Erfurt University
Dr. András Rácz, Senior Associate Fellow, Security and Defense Program, DGAP
Moderator: Dr. Henning Hoff, Executive Editor, Internationale Politik Quarterly
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Please note that this event will be recorded.
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