G7 leaders were expected to warn yesterday, in a clear rebuke to Russia, that manipulating energy supplies to intimidate one’s neighbors is unacceptable and that countries need to diversify their energy systems to avoid getting blackmailed.
“The use of energy supplies as a means of political coercion or as a threat to security is unacceptable,” a draft G7 summit statement seen by Agence-France Presse said.
Russia supplies about 30 percent of Europe’s gas, with about half of that transiting Ukraine.
Photo: EPA
As the Ukraine crisis has deepened, Russian state-controlled giant Gazprom has doubled gas prices and demanded billions in back payments from cash-strapped Kiev, threatening to turn off the taps if it does not get its money.
Trying to avoid a repeat of the 2006 and 2009 crises when Gazprom cut supplies, the EU has brought Ukraine and Russia together for talks, with officials due to report back shortly on a possible deal.
The G7 — Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and the US — said they would do more to diversify supplies and resources to ensure future energy security.
“The crisis in Ukraine makes plain that the energy security must be at the center of our collective agenda and requires a step change to our approach to diversifying energy supplies and modernizing our energy infrastructure,” the draft said.
The G7 will also urge the International Energy Agency, as well as the EU, to propose new ways to help prevent energy wars.
The G7 gave their backing to a new global deal on climate change in 2015 after promises from the US at the start of the week galvanized flagging momentum.
The US plan to cut emissions from power plants by 30 percent by 2030, which will run into domestic opposition, prompted the EU into a defense of its own record.
A draft of the G7 communique seen by Reuters said the leaders affirmed their “strong determination” to adopt a new global deal in 2015 that is “ambitious, inclusive and reflects changing global circumstances.”
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