Gas import ban: Ukraine increases pressure on Germany

Created: 03/10/2022Updated: 03/10/2022 05:13

Cars drive past a destroyed Russian tank near Irpin on the outskirts of Kyiv.

© Vadim Ghirda/AP/dpa

Clear edge against Russia: In the first days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the EU sticks together.

does it stay that way

The EU summit in France is a test for the new unity.

Versailles/Berlin - Before the EU summit in Versailles, France, Ukraine is increasing the pressure on Germany to stop energy imports from Russia.

In view of the high number of war victims among the civilian population, the German government's no to an import ban is "morally unacceptable," said the Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin, Andrij Melnyk, to the German Press Agency.

"We call on the Germans to make the only right decision and to implement this embargo immediately to put an end to Putin's war against Ukrainian women and children."

Melnyk also called on Germany not to object to the prospect of Ukraine joining the EU at the summit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to Scholz about this topic on Monday and asked him for support.

"The conversation was awful.

Again the same blocking attitude.

Without foresight.

But the Ukrainians will not give up hope there either.

The traffic light has to reverse and give the green light.”

Further EU course after Russia's invasion

Scholz and the other heads of state and government of the EU states want to discuss the further course after Russia's attack on Ukraine this Thursday.

The meeting in Versailles near Paris should, among other things, be about making the international community less dependent on Russian oil, gas and coal imports.

The European Union imposed massive sanctions on Russia after invading Ukraine.

So far, cutting off the billions in gas, oil and coal supplies has not been one of them.

Germany is particularly dependent on Russian energy supplies.

Scholz therefore rules out an import stop, even if the USA has already taken this step.

The USA is an exporter of gas and oil, which cannot be said for Europe as a whole, emphasized the SPD politician.

"And that's why the things that can be done are also different."

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The summit should also deal with Ukraine's application for EU membership as quickly as possible.

"We wish that Germany would do everything in its power to support the prospect of Ukraine joining the EU today," said Melnyk.

“It's not about getting membership tomorrow.

We don't want a free pass.

But we want that to happen in an expedited process, within a few years.”

Defense, Refugees and Other Sanctions

The summit in Versailles will also deal with the expansion of the EU's military defense capacities and the huge flight from Ukraine.

Further sanctions against Russia could also be prepared.

France, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU states, originally wanted to talk at the summit about the economic upswing after the Corona crisis.

This topic is now on the agenda for Friday.

The summit is also important for French President Emmanuel Macron because he is in the middle of the election campaign for re-election.

dpa