EU unlikely to add Russian gas pipeline ban to sanctions package
The EU is unlikely to amend its 11th Russia sanctions package to permanently shut natural gas pipelines the Kremlin turned off following its invasion of Ukraine, even though it's up for discussion at the upcoming G7 summit, diplomats told POLITICO.
According to draft conclusions seen by the Financial Times, the G7 club of rich democracies meeting in Japan is mulling a measure that would bar countries like Germany and Poland from resuming imports of natural gas from Russia even if the Kremlin decides to turn the taps back on.
But that would have to be accepted by G7 members like Germany and Italy, which still have pipeline links to Russia, even if the gas flowing through them has dropped off to almost nothing, and EU officials and analysts say there is no consensus in support of the idea.
“From what I hear, it is very unlikely this will pass,” said one diplomat from an EU country that had its Russian gas cut off last year, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive negotiations.
“There is too much resistance from the countries dependent on the remaining gas,” the diplomat added. “The 11th sanctions package is almost done and inserting this huge measure at this moment is not going to work.”
The European Commission declined to comment on the pipeline sanctions report.