The war in Ukraine, which has been going on for nearly three months, has multidimensional consequences, not only for the parties to the conflict. Considering the significant dependence of some European countries on Russian energy resources, a serious problem arises with regard to their energy security. Unfortunately, it was only war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Russian aggressor in Ukraine that made European decision-makers aware of the scale of threats to regional stability. They exposed weak foundations of the political and economic relations with the Putin regime, based largely on lucrative economic interests. Certainly, it is not only the Russians who benefit from the sale of energy resources, due to the fact that the economic development of many countries hinges on the imported oil or gas. Nevertheless, an energy "symbiosis" which has been functioning for many decades has relaxed vigilance of some countries. Germany is one of them is - the fourth economy in the world and a key member state of the European Union.
KBN Commentary no. 11 (100) / 2022
27 May 2022
The war in Ukraine, which has been going on for nearly three months, has multidimensional consequences, not only for the parties to the conflict. Considering the significant dependence of some European countries on Russian energy resources, a serious problem arises with regard to their energy security. Unfortunately, it was only war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Russian aggressor in Ukraine that made European decision-makers aware of the scale of threats to regional stability. They exposed weak foundations of the political and economic relations with the Putin regime, based largely on lucrative economic interests. Certainly, it is not only the Russians who benefit from the sale of energy resources, due to the fact that the economic development of many countries hinges on the imported oil or gas. Nevertheless, an energy "symbiosis" which has been functioning for many decades has relaxed vigilance of some countries. Germany is one of them is - the fourth economy in the world and a key member state of the European Union.
Picture credit: istockphoto.