Europe must urgently end its dependence on Russian energy and stop indirectly financing Moscow’s war machine, ECR Group Coordinator in the Committee on Foreign Affairs Adam Bielan said during the European Parliament plenary debate marking four years of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

He warned that continued imports of Russian oil and gas undermine Europe’s credibility and prolong the war.

Bielan said:

“Russia’s war against Ukraine did not begin four years ago, but twelve years ago, with the illegal annexation of Crimea and the occupation of Donbas — a blatant violation of international law.

“Greed and the desire for cheap Russian gas won out. This passivity allowed Russia to prepare a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, Germany was building Nord Stream 2. Angela Merkel and her supporters have blood on their hands today.”

Bielan argued that Europe must draw honest conclusions from past mistakes. He warned that continued economic flows to Russia contradict Europe’s political declarations of support for Ukraine and risk undermining the Union’s credibility at a decisive moment.

He said:

“It is a scandal that, despite Russia’s crimes, massive imports of Russian oil and gas have continued. Every euro spent on Russian energy strengthens the Kremlin’s war machine.

“The current support for Ukraine is propaganda and empty words.

“According to the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the EU has achieved a negative balance in its support for Ukraine. It has provided €187 billion, while imports of goods from Russia amounted to €311 billion, including as much as €201 billion in oil and gas.”

Bielan stressed that Europe must act decisively if it truly wishes to support Ukraine and defend European security.

“How many more victims are needed before Europe finally ends imports of Russian energy?” he concluded.