It is impossible for Europe to guarantee the supply of fuels it needs without energy imports from Russia, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned on Monday.
The head of the German government thus opposed the intention of the United States and some European Union (EU) nations to suspend the purchase of Russian energy resources in response to the Kremlin’s initiation of a special military operation in Ukraine.
Scholz said in a written statement, published Monday in various local media outlets, that the purchase of gas, oil and coal from Russia is essential to ensure the “daily life of citizens” in Europe.
“The supply of energy for heat production, mobility, electricity and industry in Europe cannot be guaranteed for the time being in any other way,” the Chancellor stressed, who assured that his government is working “to find alternatives.”
Several German ministers also spoke out against these measures, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock; the Minister of Economy, Robert Habeck; and the Minister of Finance, Christian Lindner.
Baerbock pointed out in an interview broadcast by the ARD radio and television channel that it would be counterproductive to cut off purchases of this energy supply if “in three weeks we discover that in Germany we only have enough electricity for a few days”.
A recent Yougov Institute poll published in the Handelsblatt newspaper indicated that 30 percent of respondents were “completely in favor” of ceasing fuel purchases from Russia, while 24 percent said they were “rather in favor”.
However, 36 percent said they were against this coercive measure, while 10 percent of those interviewed refused to respond to the survey, the source indicated.
Prensa Latina
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