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US President Joe Biden congratulates EC chief Ursula von der Layen. PHOTO: Reuters
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Zelenski: Bulgaria supports Ukraine unequivocally
The EU has struck a major deal to supply another 15 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas from the United States to reduce its dependence on Russian supplies. The news was announced on Friday by US President Joe Biden and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, quoted by Reuters. The decision is in response to the Kremlin’s aggression in Ukraine.
According to the agreement, by the end of the year the US will provide the EU with about 10% of the gas Europe now receives from Russia, although it covers as much as 40% of Europeans’ needs and cannot be completely replaced by alternative suppliers.
The new deal will include countries other than the United States, and together they will have the obligation to supply the unit with an additional 15 billion cubic meters of gas in addition to last year’s 22 billion. currently imported from Russia. The eventual goal would be for the United States and other international partners to supply about 50 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas to the EU each year.
Von Fer Layen explained that Europe wants to diversify its energy sources “into suppliers we trust, who are our friends, who are reliable.”
Regarding the desire of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin for all countries on the “unfriendly list” to pay for their gas supplies in rubles, she said Russia could not blackmail Europe in this way because it would be a unilateral decision and clearly breach of contract ”. She added that this is an attempt to circumvent the imposed sanctions, which will not be allowed.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also said the ruble payment was unlikely.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined a meeting of European leaders in Brussels on Thursday, listing for the first time the countries he believes support him and those who hesitate. He described Bulgaria’s position as unappealable, while openly calling on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to make a clear distinction on whose side he is in the conflict.
The 7-hour debate in Brussels decided that European leaders would provide more military, humanitarian and economic aid to Kyiv, but did not take new measures against Russia. “Sanctions are imposed in response to something. If we impose new sanctions now that the situation is unchanged, what would be our next step? ”Said Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bethel.
Joe Biden, meanwhile, took advantage of his presence at the EU summit and said his position was that Russia should be excluded from the G20. He added that if certain countries, such as Indonesia, do not agree with the abolition of Moscow, then he believes that Ukraine should at least be allowed to attend the meetings.
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