Europe needs to reduce its dependence on Russian gas and energy

 

 British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has spoken out in support of reducing Europe's dependence on Russian energy, the BBC quoted her as saying.

"We absolutely must reduce our dependence on Russian gas and energy. And this must be part of the overall strategy to reduce dependence on countries with non-market economies, reduce dependence on hostile players, we must ensure that the free world is able to to have the strategic independence it needs to survive and thrive, "she told the BBC on Saturday.

 "I want to work with our German, French and Italian partners, and in fact with the whole of the European Union, to ensure that free democracies can have an alternative to Russian gas supplies. I think this is very important, "said the British Foreign Secretary.

She also noted that any negative development of the Ukrainian scenario will complicate the task of launching the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline. "I think moving forward on this issue in the event of aggression that we see from Russia against Ukraine will be a problem," Truss said.

 She also did not rule out the introduction of new sanctions against the Russian Federation in this case. "As for the threats to Ukraine, of course, we are looking for what else we can do. "We are working with unanimous partners to ensure that if any action is taken (against Ukraine), severe economic sanctions against Russia will follow," said the first British diplomat.