U.S. Pushes Europe for Stricter Russia Sanctions, Linking Demands to Energy Trade Deal
WASHINGTON – The Biden administration is pressing the European Union to accelerate and expand sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector, a move explicitly linked to fulfilling commitments under a U.S.-EU trade agreement. The agreement stipulates Europe must purchase $750 billion worth of U.S. energy resources by the end of 2028, a benchmark officials suggest coudl be more readily met with reduced reliance on Russian supplies.
The escalating pressure comes as the EU grapples with weaning itself off Russian fossil fuels, which continue to fund the Kremlin’s military operations in Ukraine. While the bloc imported 52 billion cubic meters of Russian gas and 13 million tons of oil in 2024, despite pledges to diversify, the U.S. is advocating for a more decisive break. This push reflects a growing concern in Washington that current sanctions are insufficient to cripple Russia’s war machine, and that European purchases are inadvertently sustaining it.
“Russia finances its war machine from oil and gas exports, and if you cut off European purchases, that would reduce their revenue,” a U.S. Energy Department official stated, underscoring the administration’s rationale.
Brussels proposed in June a legal ban on all Russian fossil fuel imports by the end of 2027, but some members of the European Parliament are pushing for an earlier deadline – potentially as soon as january 2027. Hungary and Slovakia have cautioned against a rapid shift, citing potential economic repercussions.
Despite the assertive rhetoric, the Trump administration previously imposed only limited sanctions on Moscow, and even rolled back some existing restrictions. More recently, in August, Washington levied tariffs on India, a major purchaser of Russian oil, but refrained from implementing broader measures. indian officials indicated the tariffs would not significantly curtail their imports of Russian crude.
european Council President Antonio Costa announced on September 6, 2024, that an EU delegation will travel to Washington to negotiate a new, joint sanctions package against Russia. The following day, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen indicated a willingness to expand secondary sanctions to countries buying Russian oil, though no specific actions were announced.The outcome of these negotiations will be critical in determining the future trajectory of sanctions and the extent to which Europe will accelerate its energy transition away from Russia.
