Atomic lobby seizes on Spanish blackout
Spain has rejected claims that more nuclear power would have helped as recriminations erupt over last week’s outage.
Russian energy
The Brief โ Grabbing theย Gazprom jugular
Slovakia and Hungary can kick up a fuss but it won’t be enough to hold up the divorce from Russian energy.
EU gears up for fight with Russian energy holdouts
Brussels will soon tell Hungary and Slovakia to stop dealing with Moscow โ whether they like it or not. But the EUโs enforcement plan is fuzzier.
France could now prove the weak link in the Franco-German engine
The relationship between the two countries may be more difficult to rebuild than the warm words between Merz and Macron suggest.
EU sets 2027 as deadline to phase out all Russian energy, including LNG
Imports of Russian oil, gas and nuclear materials must stop by 2027 at the very latest, Brussels has proposed in a new ambitious strategy.
EU to propose blanket ban on Russian gas
The upcoming legislation sets up a clash between Brussels and EU capitals eying a post-war return to cheap Russian energy.ย
Europeโs final plan to quit Russian energy: Enlist wary execs
The EU will make its pitch Tuesday, searching for momentum as sanctions stall, the U.S. equivocates and some eye a Russian fuel return.
Orbรกnโs man in Brussels stalls Russian energy exit plan
Hungaryโs EU commissioner is hindering the planโs quick approval on Tuesday, despite obligations to act independently from Viktor Orbรกnโs Russia-friendly policies.
Kazakhstan wants its oil back โ it comes at the worst time for the EU
As Brussels woos Central Asia to ditch Russian energy, Kazakhstanโs move to rewrite old oil deals could throw a wrench in the EUโs plans.
German coalition member backs US easing Nord Stream sanctions in Russia peace talks
A move by the White House to grant a reprieve to Russian energy divides Berlin’s incoming government.
White House debates lifting sanctions on Russian energy assets, Nord Stream
The debate pits Steve Witkoff against State Department and U.S. energy export proponents.
Postwar Russian energy return โillusory,โ Belgium says
Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet told POLITICO he wants to phase out the country’s Russian gas imports โ but didn’t back an outright ban.
Trump wants Europe to pay more for gas. The EU wants to spend less.
The White House is pushing Europe to spend billions more on energy imports. That’s going to be difficult if it blows up the world economy.
Ukraine war briefing: Russian missile attack in Zelenskyyโs home town kills 18
Nine children among the dead in strike on Kryvyi Rih residential area as Kyiv says Moscowโs claim it targeted military gathering is false. What we know on day 1,137See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverageA Russian missile strike killed at least 18 peopl…
Russia open to security guarantees for Ukraine โin some form,โ Putinโs envoy says after White House talks
Russia’s negotiator insisted there was a “positive outcome” after two days of talks with Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in Washington.
Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv accuses Russia of war crime after attack on military hospital in Kharkiv
Ukrainian officials denounce โdeliberateโ targeted shelling of hospital; Ukrainian president says US, Europe must respond to daily Russian drone attacks. What we know on day 1,131See all our Ukraine war coverageRussian drones struck a military hospital…
Senior German lawmaker blasts US for switching sides on Ukraine
A close ally of Germanyโs incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz warns that U.S. policy on Ukraine is drifting dangerously.
Armenian parliament adopts law to launch EU membership process
Decision in Yerevan paves the way for a long and winding (and potentially fruitless) quest toward a place in the bloc.
Europeโs new unanimity: Orbรกn doesnโt need to agree
If the Hungarian prime minister wants to go it alone, he’s very welcome to, diplomats say.
Ukraineโs long-range Neptune cruise missile is a potential trump card
Russia is talking of halting energy infrastructure attacks just as Ukraine unleashes a powerful new cruise missile.
Germany should keep Nord Stream options open, conservative politician says
As Germany’s next government takes shape, conservative negotiators are weighing whether Russian gas could still have a role in the country’s energy future.
EUโs front-line states rally against Russian energy return
A return to buying more of Moscow’s fossil fuels would be a mistake, EU countries bordering Russia told POLITICO.
Ukraine open to Russia sanctions relaxation as part of peace deal
Hard-hitting economic measures can be used as leverage to secure justice from Moscow, Ukraineโs sanctions chief tells POLITICO.
Trump will make โ or break โ Europeโs Russia sanctions
Western allies are worried the U.S. president could go either way on decisions that will ripple across the Atlantic.
Hungary begs Ukraine to spare Russian oil pipelines after drone strike cuts off flow
Budapest has refused to reduce its dependence on Russian fossil fuels despite the war raging next door.
EU delays its exit strategy from Russian energy amid geopolitical turmoil
The bloc will miss a self-imposed deadline to unveil its plan to end reliance on Moscow.
Trump celebrates disruption and defies backlash in Congress speech
โThe people elected me to do the job, and Iโm doing it.โ
EU moves to replace Russian energy influence in Moldova
EU cash has ensured that gas and power flow in Moldova and its breakaway region of Transnistria, after Russia closed the taps โ now Brussels wants a longer-term deal.
Massive Ukrainian drone attack targets Russian power, oil facilities
A massive Ukrainian drone attack targeted critical Russian energy infrastructure overnight, with Moscow saying that its air defence systems destroyed a drone attempting to hit a nuclear power facility in Smolensk on the Belarusian border.ย
EU lets Russian LNG slip in new sanctions package
The proposal will not include a blanket prohibition of LNG imports, as scores of EU hawks have been urging.
Ukraine war briefing: US has not stopped military aid to Ukraine, says Zelenskyy
Comments follow an announcement from newly inaugurated US secretary of state Marco Rubio that he would pause foreign aid grants for 90 days. What we know on day 1,068See all our Ukraine coverageThe US has not stopped military aid to Ukraine after newly…
Hungary wobbles on sanctions threat after Trump calls out Putin
Viktor Orbรกn has flirted with killing the EU’s Russia sanctions. But he didn’t get the ally he might have expected in Donald Trump.
Trump says itโs Putinโs fault Ukraine war isnโt over
U.S. president also says he’ll ask NATO allies to raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP.
โLittle to loseโ: Ukraine exacts retribution on Russian energy sites as Trump looms
Ukraine and Russia have carried out massive strikes on each otherโs energy facilitiesย over the past two days, reflecting Kyivโs growing willingness to respond blow-for-blow โ and target a crucial Russian export โย as it prepares for a potentially decis…
West must keep adapting Russia sanctions and focus on enforcement, analyst says
U.S. Treasury Department on Friday imposed sanctions on Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas as well as 183 vessels that transport oil as part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers. FRANCE 24’s Yinka Oyetade speaks to Benjamin Godwin, Partner at …
Gazprom considers record job cuts as Ukraine war ravages finances
Russian energy group hit by plummet in European gas sales and oil sanctions, putting 1,600 jobs on line
Ukrainian drones attack oil depot in Russia used by Moscow’s air force
The Ukrainian military on Wednesday said that its forces had hit a Russian oil depot located hundreds of kilometres inside Russia. Kyiv has said it aims to erode Russian energy revenues that are used to fund the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine war briefing: New Yearโs Day drone strike kills two in Kyiv
Explosions boomed across the morning sky as Ukraineโs air force warned of incoming drones. What we know on day 1,044See all our Ukraine war coverage Russia launched a New Yearโs Day drone strike on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Wednesday, killing…
Cutting off Russian gas to EU will have โdrasticโ impact, Slovak PM warns
Top Putin ally has threatened to retaliate against Kyiv.
Europeโs Russian energy sanctions have run out of steam. Can Poland fire them up again?
Warsaw wants to use its turn in the EU’s rotating chair to take on Russian imports.
Zelenskyy accuses Slovak PM Fico of helping Putin weaken Europe
Fico wants to help Putin earn money to fund the war and weaken Europe, says Zelenskyy.
Qatar warns it will halt gas supplies to Europe if fined under EU due diligence law
“I’m not bluffing” in LNG threat, Qatari Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi tells the FT.
Polandโs role in shaping Europeโs energy transition and competitiveness
During a tumultuous yet transformative time, PKEE seeks to drive a cleaner, more prosperous and resilient region
UK slaps new sanctions on Russian shadow fleet
Twenty ships believed to be responsible for transporting Russian oil have been targeted.
EUโs new energy chief vows to end Russian fuel ties for good
Momentum for quitting Moscowโs revenue driver has stalled. “Something new needs to happen,” Dan Jรธrgensen told POLITICO.
Peace plans galore: Lots of ideas to end the fighting but the sides remain far apart
More than 3 years of fighting and the arrival of Donald Trump is increasing pressure for a peace deal.
Kyivโs backers take comfort in Trumpโs Cabinet picks
Theyโre very cautiously optimistic that Trumpโs first national security nominees are bad news for Putin.
Hungaryโs largest oil group attacks western โhypocrisyโ over Russian energy
Molโs links to Moscow have come under scrutiny after Spainโs veto of Hungarian consortiumโs bid for train maker Talgo
Azerbaijan, EU human rights feud escalates as COP29 looms
The host of next month’s U.N. climate talks is warning Western politicians and NGOs not to criticize its internal affairs.
After Orbรกn, EU eyes new Russia sanctions push
Momentum has stalled under Hungary’s direction and leadership turnover in Brussels. Poland wants to change that.
CRINK: Itโs the new โAxis of Evilโ
The alliance among China, Russia, Iran and North Korea is forcing NATO to tighten links with Indo-Pacific countries.
Has the EU underestimated its relationship with Gulf countries?
The EU sees the Gulf as a key energy partner in reducing its dependence on Russian energy but the Gulf’s ties with Moscow make this partnership challenging.
Pro-Ukraine pledges proving too contentious for EU-Gulf summit, leak shows
A draft joint statement seen by POLITICO shows Gulf states rejecting a unified call to cease aid for Russia and crack down on sanctions evasion.
Ukraine slams Oscar winner over pro-Russia outburst
Jared Leto said he missed Russia and will return with concerts after โproblemsโ (also known as: the invasion of Ukraine) are finished.
If war ends Iโll restore relations with Russia, Slovakiaโs Fico says
Pro-Moscow prime minister wants to continue buying Russian gas and oil and to maintain existing transit routes through Ukraine.
Putinโs war economy faces pain if Saudis sink global oil prices
A Saudi move to grab market share will squeeze the Kremlin’s finances, experts argue.
West funding Putinโs soldiers with growing Russian fuel purchases, report warns
Countries opposed to Moscow are spending ever more on cheap fuel made from Russian oil, according to a new analysis shared with POLITICO.
Ukraine backs Russian oil loophole for Hungary
The deal will allow Viktor Orbรกn’s government to bypass Kyiv’s sanctions on Russian oil giant Lukoil.
Armenia and Azerbaijan tout possible peace deal
The two sides say they are close to an agreement that could end one of the former Soviet Union’s longest-running territorial conflicts.
Hungary FM teases more Gazprom contracts after huge blowup with EU ministers
Foreign Minister Szijjรกrtรณ sat down for three hours with the CEO of the Russian energy giant.
Closing the backdoor: The new TurkStream is here. Can the West stop it?
Martin Vladimirov is director of the Energy and Climate Program at the Center for the Study of Democracy. Announcing its plans for what could be called TurkStream 2 on Aug. 21, Turkey finally dropped all pretenses. According to the countryโs energy minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, the state-owned gas monopoly BOTAล would now be able export around [โฆ]
Kremlin official arrested in Russia for chucking Champagne bottle at delivery driver
Police are investigating if the former Russian minister was intoxicated.
Youโve had two years: EU eyerolls at Hungaryโs request for help with Russian oil
After failing to reduce their reliance on Moscow for energy, Hungary and Slovakia now want help from Brussels.
Ukraine: President Zelenskyy calls for more military equipment from Western partners
President Zelenskyy also said that to protect the country’s energy infrastructure, Ukraine might need to attack Russian energy infrastructure.
Russiaโs southern Krasnodar region struck by overnight drone attack
Kyiv has not yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, although Ukraine has previously struck Russian energy sites and targeted its infrastructure.
EU approves first-ever sanctions on Russian gas
Itโs a notable evolution in strategy for the EU, and came after Germany and Hungary held up a deal for weeks.
Russia overtook US as gas supplier to Europe in May
Rise in market share highlights difficulty of weaning the region off Russian energy
Ukraine strikes deal for US gas in bid to clip Russian energy influence
US LNG exporter Venture Global will begin shipping transatlantic cargoes to Ukrainian company this year
Biden and Macron stress a shared vision on Ukraine and Gaza even amid bubbling disagreements
The two leaders met on Saturday as questions persist over the future of Ukraine funding and a peace proposal for Gaza.
German weapons-maker loses Champions League final
Borussia Dortmund’s sponsorship deal with mega arms merchant triggered debate before the big game, in a country where military matters can still be taboo.
Germany backs down in gas levy fight
The climbdown comes after the EU threatened legal action and capitals warned the fees were making it harder to quit Russian energy.
EU energy ministers gather to take final stock โ and set post-election agenda
EU energy ministers are set to meet for the final time this term on 30 May, to discuss Russian energy and the Green Deal, but many countries are tabling ‘Any Other Business’ points, intending to influence the EU’s post-election agenda.
Germany, Czech Republic seek EU talks on fully quitting Russian energy
Germany and the Czech Republic are pushing the European Union to hold talks on how to eliminate the remaining energy sources Europe imports from Russia, EU diplomats told Reuters on Tuesday (28 May).
How Putin hijacked Austriaโs spy service โ and is now gunning for its government
Intelligence officials suspect Wirecard COO Jan Marsalek of colluding with the far-right Freedom Party on Moscowโs behalf.ย
EU proposes first sanctions on Russiaโs LNG sector
Until now, the EU hasn’t targeted Moscow’s lucrative gas sector. The proposed sanctions would hit about a quarter of Russia’s LNG revenues.
Moldova eyes energy lever to topple Kremlin puppet regime in Transnistria
For the first time, Moldova can cut an energy link to its breakaway territory. Yet doing so risks Moscow’s threats and a possible humanitarian crisis.
Azerbaijan president: COP29 wonโt stop us investing in โgod-givenโ gas
President Ilham Aliyev used a Berlin climate speech to push for major foreign investments to boost its natural gas exports to Europe.
Why Germanyโs Scholz is bowing to the Chinese dragon
Ignoring pressure from Washington, chancellor seeks Beijing’s embrace.
Hungaryโs new gas deal fuels Russia fears
Increasing exports to the EU are a lifeline for Turkey, but analysts fear it could be the Kremlin cashing in.
Europeโs new energy risk: Trading Russia for America
The EU replaced Russian energy with U.S. supplies after Moscow launched a war. Now people are wondering: Is Europe too dependent on America?
From Doctor Botox to Facebookโs top lobbyist, meet the folks who left politics to cash in
Olivier Vรฉran and Nick Clegg are just two of the ex-politicians who’ve gone off to make the big bucks.
Ukraine rejects claims of Western pressure over attacks on Russian oil facilities
Ukraine will continue attacking Russian oil refineries, Kyiv vows
US urges Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries, report says
Washington fears rising oil prices and extra retaliation from Moscow.
Ukraine knocks out Russian refinery in major attack
Ukraine pounded targets in Russia on Tuesday (12 March) with dozens of drones and rockets in an attack that inflicted serious damage on a major oil refinery and sought to pierce the land borders of the world’s biggest nuclear power with armed proxies.