Europe Must Cement Its Energy Independence | Opinion

Three years into Russia's brutal war against Ukraine, Europe has made significant progress in weaning itself off Russian natural gas. But the job is far from finished. Some may see a potential peace deal as an opportunity to reset energy ties with Moscow, but this would be a historic mistake. The European Union (EU) must double down on its energy security efforts, ensuring that we never again find ourselves at the mercy of the Kremlin's manipulation.

The European Commission's latest 16th sanctions package is another step in the right direction. Targeting Russia's shadow fleet and blocking the exploitation of EU ports strengthens our energy resilience. But let's be honest—Europe is still spending billions on Russian oil and gas—more than we're sending to Ukraine in financial aid.

That is simply unacceptable.

Europe must do more to secure its energy independence—and that starts with strengthening our partnership with the United States and ensuring that American liquefied natural gas (LNG) continues to flow into our continent. Washington has the resources, and we have the demand. Aligning our energy policies with the U.S. is the smartest way to guarantee long-term stability for all Europeans, both economically and geopolitically.

Lessons Learned, But Not Yet Applied

The war in Ukraine exposed Europe's deep dependence on Russian gas. We saw how Putin wielded energy as a weapon—cutting off supplies, driving up prices, and creating economic chaos. In response, European nations scrambled to find alternatives, with U.S. LNG emerging as a lifeline.

Yet, Europe continues to send over 20 billion euros a year to Russian energy companies, weakening not only our position against the Kremlin but also undermining our own strategic interests.

The EU cannot afford to finance both sides of this war. European leaders must face the realities of the contradictions in our policies. We cannot claim to support Ukraine while continuing to buy the very resources that fuel Putin's war machine. Every euro spent on Russian oil and gas strengthens Moscow's hand, making it harder to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.

No Reopening Russian Gas—But No Cutting Off Supply Routes Either

A peace deal by U.S. President Donald Trump is welcome, and Europe should support efforts to end the conflict. But peace must not come at the cost of our energy security. We must reject any effort to restore Russian gas flows into Europe, whether through pipelines or shadow trade networks. The reopening of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, for instance, must remain permanently off the table.

However, that doesn't mean closing off our energy infrastructure. The EU must remain a key transit hub for global energy and ensure that American LNG moves efficiently through our markets. The more we import from our ally, the less influence Moscow retains.

The Czech government has already taken significant steps toward energy diversification, including the development of infrastructure for U.S. LNG imports. Yet, more must be done to accelerate this shift and ensure that our country, as well as the wider Visegrád Group, are not left behind in the global energy transition.

The U.S.-Europe Energy Partnership Must Expand

Former President Joe Biden's restrictions on LNG exports last year sent a dangerous signal to allies at a time when Europe needed certainty. But American LNG remains the most immediate and strategic way to lessen our dependence on Russian energy. Temporary domestic political decisions in Washington must not undermine long-term strategic energy partnerships.

Fortunately, with the LNG pause now lifted, the U.S. is moving forward with critical projects that will enhance our energy security. The pending approval of CP2—one of the largest LNG export terminals—will deliver reliable energy to Europe and decrease gas supply from Russia. The best part—American LNG isn't a long-term vision, it's arriving now.

The first U.S. LNG shipment arrived in Germany last year—a significant moment, considering American LNG was once dismissed as unnecessary. Only after the war began was it acknowledged as critical to European energy security. Calcasieu Pass is also set to begin commercial operations in the coming months, adding even more capacity to meet European demand.

These new projects will cement the U.S. as the world's leading LNG supplier, providing Europe with a secure and diversified energy mix.

Europe's Responsibility to Itself

The European Union has taken important steps to lessen our dependence on Moscow, but let's be clear—we have not done enough.

Europe needs more American LNG, and we need to stop any lingering dependence on Russian fossil fuels. This is a moment of decision for Europe. Either we continue building a secure energy future with the U.S. as our trusted partner, or we risk repeating the mistakes of the past. Let's choose wisely, while we still have the chance.

Alexandr Vondra is a Czech politician, former deputy prime minister, and minister of foreign affairs, with a distinguished career as Czech ambassador to the United States. He is a current member of the European Parliament with expertise in foreign policy and energy security.

The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.