Business & Economy

Johnson, Rutte say divestment of Russian gas should be gradual

London, Mar 7 (EFE).- The process of weaning Europe off Russian energy needs to be gradual rather than sudden, the leaders of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands said on Monday.

British prime minister Boris Johnson said that the supply of Russian energy could not be turned off “overnight.”

“There are going to be impacts but I think it is the right thing to do. It is completely the right thing to do to move away from Russian hydrocarbons but we have to do it step by step,” he told a press conference alongside Dutch PM Mark Rutte.

The price of Brent crude oil shot up following recent remarks by United States secretary of state Antony Blinken announcing he had held talks with European Union members about banning gas imports from Russia.

“We have to consider how we can all move away as fast as possible from dependence, reliance, on Russian hydrocarbons, Russian oil and gas. Everybody is doing that, everybody is on the same journey. Some countries will find it faster and easier than others,” Johnson added.

Rutte said the change in Russian gas dependence had to be “step by step.”

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, who is visiting the UK, ordered a ban on Russian hydrocarbon imports in response to president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Canada’s reliance on Russian energy was insignificant compared to Europe, he said Monday.

The Canadian PM on Monday also announced sanctions against 10 Russian individuals close to Putin EFE

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