Campaigners warn that EU sanctions failure is fuelling Russia’s “genocidal” nuclear threats, demand full fossil fuel embargo now

Brussels, 27 September

Leading Ukrainian and international campaigners have written to the European Council to demand that the EU implements a full and immediate embargo on all Russian fossil fuels.

Writing in advance of the EU energy ministers’ meeting on Friday, the campaigners say that Vladimir Putin’s threat to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine has made it clear that European money can no longer be used to fund Russia’s “genocidal war”.

“We clearly see that Putin is prepared to take the next brutal step in the escalation of genocidal fossil fueled war, which has already claimed tens of thousands of lives in Ukraine. With Russia’s threat to use nuclear weapons it can claim much more lives, and not only in Ukraine. Effective and bold political response is needed urgently. We call on the European Commission and EU member states to take an all-hands-on-deck approach to the 8th sanctions package in the face of this threat. Russia’s ability to wage war must be put on ice with consistent energy sanctions immediately”, said Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Director of Razom We Stand NGO.

Louis Wilson, Senior Campaigner at Global Witness, said: “The EU must immediately apply sanctions to the import and trade of Russian oil and gas, to deprive Putin of the ability to weaponize energy supply to Europe and to wage war”.

The open letter came as campaigners unveiled a billboard outside the European Parliament, clearly showing the link between Europe’s continued trade in Russian oil and the bloodshed in Ukraine. Since Putin’s invasion, EU countries have spent more than €90bn on Russian fossil fuels.

The letter was addressed to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson, President of the European Council Charles Michel and energy ministers of EU member states.