Step Up or Perish: The EU's Struggle with Russian Energy Imports and Its Role in the New Geopolitical Reality

Abstract

In the tension between Russia and the West, currently being stoked by Russia’s war on Ukraine, two things have become clear. First, the more united the West is in its reaction to the Russian aggression, the greater the impact. Second, dependence on Russian energy is the West’s Achilles heel. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a specter of disunity that has long haunted the European Union, has turned into a significant weakness in the foreign policy sphere. The dependence has exposed vulnerability vis-à-vis Russian geopolitical ambitions and hinders efforts to build political consensus. Since not all EU members are equally dependent on energy imports from Russia, they are not on the same page as to what actions should be taken against the Russian aggression. Nevertheless, there are things that can and should be done if the EU wants to be a relevant international player. The key is not to repeat past mistakes.