NGOs also demand the country of origin for oil be made clear at petrol stations
The European Union should embargo all oil and gas imports from Russia in order to stop financing Putin’s war on Ukraine, say 26 European NGOs in a public appeal to leaders. The coalition is also demanding that the country of origin for oil products be made clear at petrol stations to ensure consumers do not inadvertently fund the Putin regime.
Countries should introduce a tariff or levy on Russian fossil fuel exports ahead of a complete embargo of fossil fuel imports from Russia, the groups say. Oil accounts for four out of five dollars made on Russian oil and gas exports and has underpinned Putin’s military spending for over two decades. This must end, says the coalition of NGOs from Kiev to Lisbon.
Heorhiy Veremiychyk of the National Ecological Center of Ukraine, said: “Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine is devastating for the people of our country. Russian missiles and bombs are killing hundreds of Ukrainian defenders and civilians. This will only get worse. We need urgent action to cripple the Putin regime’s ability to fund the war. Russia continues to receive payments from European governments that inadvertently fund Russia’s assault on Ukraine. That must end.”
So far, oil and gas have not been included in the economic sanctions which, while necessary, are not stopping the Russian advance. Every day EU countries continue to transfer hundreds of millions of euros for oil and gas to the Putin regime – estimated at between €80 billion and €85 billion in 2022 – paying for its illegal war on Ukraine. Two-thirds of Russian oil imports are used in transport.
Freezing the fossil fuel trade with Russia will have impacts on energy prices, the groups say, but Putin’s extraordinary military aggression requires an extraordinary response. They call on governments to take decisive action to shield households and businesses from the negative impacts of the energy crisis. IEA countries which have 90 days worth of oil reserves for emergencies should deploy them to support countries with high exposure to Russia.
William Todts, executive director at Transport & Environment, said: “The rockets destroying Ukrainian cities are bought with the petrol in European cars. For 20 years we’ve been paying blood money to Putin. Ending our oil addiction is not just a moral imperative to address climate change, it is crucial to ending this war.”
In solidarity with the Ukrainian people, the groups demand the EU and the UK take the following actions, at least until Russia has ceased hostilities in Ukraine:
Full list of signatories:
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