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Energy chief: EU would welcome US support to stop using Russian oil

Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said on Friday that the European Union would be happy to have President Donald Trump support its plans to stop purchasing Russian oil. These purchases are used to fund Moscow's war against Ukraine.

The European Union has begun negotiating with Russia to end its decades-old energy relationship.

A White House official confirmed that U.S. president Donald Trump called European leaders on Thursday and told them to stop buying Russian oil. Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict are still ongoing.

Jorgensen is in charge of the EU's Energy Policy. He said that he was not under any pressure from the U.S. Administration to stop Russian oil purchases before the 2028 deadline. However, he would appreciate U.S. support for the EU Plan.

"Putin has not only weaponised energy and blackmailed members states against us but we also indirectly finance Putin's War, which needs to stop. "If President Trump supports that, that's a very welcome support because that is our main goal," he stated in an interview.

The White House official who quoted Trump's remarks has asked the Kremlin for comment.

India accused the West for being hypocritical after the United States imposed punitive duties on India because of its continued purchase of Russian oil.

HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA OPPOSE PHASE OUT

According to EU figures, the amount of gas Europe purchases from Russia is expected to drop to 13% this year. This compares to 45% in 2022 before Russia invaded Ukraine.

Hungary and Slovakia continue importing Russian crude oil via the Druzhba pipe and oppose the EU's phase out plan, claiming it will increase energy prices.

Jorgensen stated that he is in discussions with both governments to address their concerns, but if necessary, EU countries can approve phase-out plans even without them. He refused to confirm whether Brussels would provide funding or legal assurances to try to win support from the two countries.

Jorgensen stated that if there are domestic reasons that prevent some countries from supporting it, this does not require unanimity.

The EU proposals were designed to be approved by a consolidated majority of members countries. EU diplomats said they expect the energy ministers of member countries to approve these proposals at a meeting in a month.

Next week, Jorgensen and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright will meet in Brussels to discuss the EU's commitment to purchase $250 billion worth of U.S. supplies of energy per year as part of a U.S.-EU free trade agreement.

Analysts say the EU's energy pledge is unrealistically large - partly because it has limited control over what energy its companies import.

Jorgensen stated that they will discuss ways in which the EU and U.S. Administrations can ensure that the deal is implemented. The Commission, for example, has stated that it could pool the demand of European companies in order to purchase more U.S. Gas.

It's obvious that our role is facilitation. "The EU is not a trader of gas," Jorgensen stated. (Reporting and editing by Jan Strupczewski, Barbara Lewis and Kate Abnett)

(source: Reuters)