EU vows no return to Russian oil

Valdis Dombrovskis said on May 22 that the European Union would not go back to Russian oil or gas even as energy prices rise with renewed turmoil in the Middle East. The economy commissioner told Euronews the bloc had made a “strategic decision” to move away from Russian fossil fuels and would not trade sanctions relief for cheaper supply. His comments came as Europe faces another bout of pressure in energy markets and as allied governments debate how far to shield households and industry from higher costs. They also exposed a fresh split with Britain over sanctions enforcement. ### What exactly did Dombrovskis rule out? Valdis Dombrovskis told Euronews that the EU “should not” look to cheap Russian fossil fuels for relief from higher energy costs and said there would be no return to Russian oil or gas purchases. He said Moscow was trying to exploit the crisis for energy profits and that Brussels would keep its sanctions course. The European Commission has been presenting that course as part of REPowerEU, the bloc’s framework for replacing Russian energy supplies after Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Commission says EU dependence on Russian gas fell from 45% of imports before the war to 12% in 2025, while Russian oil’s share dropped from 27% at the start of 2022 to 2%, with only two EU countries still importing Russian oil. (euronews.com) ### How much Russian energy is still reaching Europe? The European Commission says about 35 billion cubic meters of Russian gas were still being imported into the EU annually as of 2025. Under REPowerEU, Brussels says those remaining volumes will be out of the EU market in less than two years. The remaining flows have become more concentrated. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis said EU imports of Russian pipeline gas via Türkiye rose in 2025 and continued to increase in the first quarter of 2026, even as overall dependence stayed far below prewar levels. (energy.ec.europa.eu) ### Why did Brussels single out Britain? Dombrovskis said Brussels was “surprised” by London’s latest sanctions move because, he said, it had not been raised during a meeting of G7 finance ministers in Paris. (energy.ec.europa.eu) Politico reported that the British government issued a sanctions licence on Tuesday exempting jet fuel and diesel from a new import ban on oil products made from Russian crude but refined in third countries. (ieefa.org) The British government updated its Russia sanctions guidance on May 20. The guidance says the import prohibition on certain oil products processed in third countries from Russian-origin crude applies from that date, while setting out the legal framework for the change. The Associated Press reported that Britain softened parts of the measure to reduce the impact of higher fuel costs after disruption linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. (politico.eu) ### Is this only about oil and gas, or about sanctions discipline too? The dispute widened beyond fuel. Euronews reported that Dombrovskis also criticized London’s move to ease sanctions on some Russian fertilizer products, using it as an example of diverging approaches among allies. (gov.uk) Brussels has been trying to lock in a longer timetable that outlasts short-term market swings. (apnews.com) Industry and legal summaries of EU measures say the bloc’s gas phaseout allows some contracts to run through transition periods, with long-term contracts in some cases lasting until January 1, 2028, while the Commission has also reiterated plans to end remaining Russian oil imports by the end of 2027. (euronews.com) ### What comes next in the EU plan? The European Commission says updated REPowerEU implementation guidance was published on March 18, 2026, and that the remaining Russian gas volumes are due to leave the EU market within two years. That timetable now sits alongside Dombrovskis’ May 22 statement that the bloc will not revisit Russian oil or gas purchases as prices rise. (energy.ec.europa.eu) (reedsmith.com)