The European Union is rejecting any connection between the opportunity of resuming Russian pipeline fuel purchases and peace talks on ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict, European Fee Chief Spokesperson Paula Pinho mentioned on Jan. 30 throughout a press briefing.

Earlier the identical day, the Monetary Occasions (FT) reported that EU officers are discussing the opportunity of resuming purchases of Russian pipeline fuel as a part of a possible settlement of Russia's conflict in Ukraine.

Proponents of the proposal, together with Hungarian and German officers, argued that the transfer might give Russia and Europe incentives to keep up a peace settlement whereas stabilizing the continent's power market, in line with the FT.

"We do not make any hyperlinks to peace talks for the second. The road has been set on this. Every time we’ve such talks when that second comes, it will likely be with Ukraine," Pinho mentioned.

"We don’t affirm any hyperlinks reported within the article this morning about any hyperlinks between the transit of fuel via Ukraine and any peace talks," she added.

Earlier than the full-scale conflict, Russian pipeline fuel represented roughly 40% of the EU's total purchases, with Germany being the chief purchaser.

The European Fee goals to get rid of Russian fossil fuels from the European Union's power market by 2027. Regardless of the virtually full halt of Russian pipeline fuel flowing to the EU, European nations have ramped up purchases of Russia's liquified pure fuel (LNG) in 2024.

Beforehand, Ukraine ended the transit of Russian fuel to Europe on Jan. 1, following the top of the contract. Some EU nations, together with Hungary and Slovakia, nonetheless depend on Russian fuel of their power system.

Following Ukraine's termination of Russian fuel transportation via its territory, fuel costs in Europe rose by 4.3% to nearly 51 euros per megawatt-hour. This rise is the very best since October 2023 and comes forward of freezing temperatures forecast throughout a lot of Europe.

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