Ukrainian MFA: EU Should Hit Back Hard and Cease All Dependence on Russian Gas

29.07.2022, 11:58 eurointegration.com.ua

The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Oleh Nikolenko, called Europe for a strong response. "Russian officials and propagandists are publicly laughing at Europe's emergency measures amid Russia's energy blackmail. They are emboldened being able to cause more harm. The only way to resist this mafia-like extortion is to hit back hard and cease all dependence on Russian gas," Nikolenko twitted. On July 26, EU energy ministers reached a deal on reducing gas demand by 15% next winter. Member states agreed to reduce their gas demand by 15% compared to their average consumption in the past five years, between August 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, with measures of their own choice. The Council specified some exemptions.