Western Leaders are trying to maintain pressure on Russia

 

Avoiding Russian Energy

Leaders are trying to figure out ways to maintain pressure on Russia. 

 

Maintaining pressure. Leaders of the U.S., U.K., Germany, France and Italy held a telephone call on Tuesday to discuss the war in Ukraine, during which they agreed in principle to maintain pressure on Russia through sanctions. They also discussed effects the sanctions are having on the global energy landscape.

Avoiding Russian energy. Relatedly, on Wednesday German Economy Minister Robert Habeck urged businesses and individuals to reduce energy consumption as German gas storage levels fell to about 25 percent. Habeck triggered the first part of a three-stage emergency plan that will also create a task force to help manage energy issues. Meanwhile, the Polish government on Tuesday adopted legislation that will block the import of Russian coal. Today, it announced plans to end Russian oil imports by 2022.

Blinken in North Africa. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is meeting with the Algerian president and foreign minister in Algiers today. They are expected to discuss the reopening of a natural gas pipeline to Spain via Morocco. On Tuesday, Blinken was in Morocco, where he expressed his support for a Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara. He also met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan to discuss the fallout of the Ukraine crisis, global energy supplies and Iran’s nuclear negotiations.