US and EU accuse Russia of using energy as a geopolitical “weapon”

U.S and the European Union (EU) they criticized Russia for using the energy supply to Europe as a geopolitical “weapon” for which they promised to intensify cooperation amid tensions with Moscow over the concentration of troops on the border with Ukraine.

This was indicated by the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Joseph Borrell, at the start of the bilateral Energy Council in Washington.

“This is truly a pivotal discussion and one that could not be more timely,” Blinken said in his opening remarks.

The head of US diplomacy remarked that “Russia has tried to increase its energy advantage” and Russian companies have stopped pumping natural gas to Europe amid rising world prices and in the middle of winter.

In this sense, he reiterated Washington’s commitment to ensure the energy supply to Europe.

For his part, Borrell lamented that Russia “does not hesitate to use” energy as “a weapon for geopolitical benefits” at a time of global scarcity, for which “strategic” collaboration with Washington is key.

“We have contacted our main energy suppliers to reinforce our preparation and ensure that the flow of energy remains reliable, affordable and safe,” Borrell said, referring to ongoing talks with Norway, Qatar, Azerbaijan and Algeria, among others.

Along with Blinken and Borrell, the European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, and the US Secretary for Energy, Jennifer Granholm, also participated in the meeting.

This meeting is held ten days after the two parties responded to Russia’s threats on Ukraine’s borders by reinforcing their energy alliance to guarantee a supply of natural gas to the community bloc in the event of a crisis such as a possible Moscow attack on Kiev. .

In a joint statement on January 28, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the United States, Joe Biden, promised to “intensify energy cooperation” so that citizens and companies in the EU and neighboring countries “have reliable and affordable energy supplies”.

The appointment is part of the escalation of tensions with the Kremlin, which has accumulated troops on its borders with Ukraine and has aroused fear of a new aggression against its neighbor, despite diplomatic attempts to appease Russian President Vladimir Putin.