'On Russian gas the EU must take drastic decisions'
This is Tom Keatinge from the Centre for Finance and Security - Rusi
The EU needs to pick up the pace, stop buying Russian gas and oil altogether and start using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine's war effort: this is the conviction of Tom Keatinge, founder and director of the Centre for Finance and Security in Rusi. The Royal United Services Institute, founded in 1831, is Britain's oldest defence and security think tank.
"Russia continues to finance the war in Ukraine with the proceeds of sales to EU countries, and this is a stain on the reputation of the EU,' he says. 'No one can think that this is right, and US President Trump is right to denounce this in no uncertain terms and force the EU to take more drastic decisions that it has so far avoided. Years of progressive sanctions have not brought results, we have to change gear'.
The EU should use the handbook used by the US in Iran, which includes intense pressure on allies to stop energy purchases from Russia and practical help in identifying alternative suppliers, while the money destined for Moscow should be placed in an escrow account to prevent it from being used for improper purposes, such as buying weapons to attack Ukraine.
Even on the frozen Russian assets front, the steps taken in recent days at the informal summit in Copenhagen are not sufficient, according to Keatinge. The Twenty-Seven gave broad support to the EU Commission's proposal to use frozen Russian assets, but with great caution.
'Much stronger signals are needed than those that came out of the meeting in Denmark,' he says. 'The EU continues to make small progress at the edges without addressing the core issue. Fortunately, it seems that (German Chancellor) Merz is changing course and is in favour of using the seized Russian assets. France and Germany must show that they have the political will to proceed'.
