Key facts
- Europe faces severe energy shortages this winter, potentially making sanctioned Russian supplies of liquid natural gas attractive.
- The EU still receives 12% of its gas imports from Russia but plans a complete phase-out by January.
Europe must be prepared for significant hardship this winter to maintain economic pressure on Russia, according to Jonathan Powell, the UK's national security adviser. Powell stated that the strategy of supporting Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Moscow is working, and now is not the time to ease pressure on President Vladimir Putin.
The comments highlight the delicate balancing act European nations face in maintaining pressure on Russia through sanctions and support for Ukraine, while simultaneously managing domestic energy security concerns and the economic fallout from the ongoing conflict.
Europe must be prepared for significant hardship this winter to maintain economic pressure on Russia, according to Jonathan Powell, the UK's national security adviser. In rare public remarks at a conference in Kyiv, Powell stated that Europe's strategy of supporting Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Moscow is working, and now is not the time to ease pressure on President Vladimir Putin.
Powell told the Yalta European Strategy forum that talk of Russian escalation was "not a problem" but a "sign of success" that pressure on Putin was finally paying off. He urged European nations not to take their "foot off the gas" and ease sanctions, despite severe energy shortages expected this winter. He also suggested that the US and Europe should maintain contact with Putin, whom he described as a "terrorist", to avoid miscalculation.
Powell expressed optimism about Ukraine's position, stating that the country had "already won" the war because Putin would not be able to seize the whole country. He also noted that the "Anchorage compromise," which suggested Ukraine might cede territory and NATO membership, was "firmly dead." He believes the strategy is to apply enough pressure to make Putin want to negotiate, and that this strategy is beginning to work.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities have begun evacuating some residents from Slovyansk and Kramatorsk in the eastern Donbas region, a key objective for Russia. Oleksandr Kravchenko, Ukraine's minister of economy, told the conference that Russian attacks this year were expected to cost $10 billion in destroyed infrastructure and assets, and that Ukraine's GDP would contract by 1.5% due to the blockade of its sea ports curbing grain exports.
Europe is preparing for winter amid a global energy crisis and low gas stockpiles. While the EU still receives 12% of its gas imports from Russia, it plans a complete phase-out by January. However, the European Court of Auditors recently stated this plan was "faltering" amid gas shortages.