London is getting rid of Russian oil and gas. This is how Starmer puts it

A coalition of willing people will take action to withdraw Russian oil and gas from the world market, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in London on Friday after the end of a meeting of representatives of over 20 countries supporting Ukraine.

The British government chief said the coalition would continue to put military pressure on Russian leader Vladimir Putin to “bring him to the negotiating table.” – Ukraine's future is our future, Starmer emphasized.

– Today, all partners confirmed that next year they will continue to support Ukraine, our country, our resilience, especially in the form of financial support, which is crucial – said President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, who participated in the meeting.

According to the Ukrainian leader, the sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump and other allies on Russian oil are a “big step.” – Peace comes from pressure on the aggressor, Zelensky emphasized.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Russian leader Vladimir Putin is “running out of money, troops and ideas.” Therefore, now is the right time to increase the pressure. – Putin gains little on the battlefield in Ukraine – said Rutte, adding that the marginal gains of Russian troops are associated with huge losses.

– On both sides of the Atlantic we want this war to end. (…) We are heading in the right direction, said the NATO Secretary General, who talked to Trump at the White House on Wednesday.

When asked by journalists whether the US president would provide Tomahawk long-range missiles to Ukraine, Rutte said that each ally must decide for itself what type of weapon to provide to Kiev. – The US President is still considering this issue and, of course, the decision rests with the United States – he concluded.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirmed that members of the coalition of the willing had agreed to increase pressure on Russia, while committing to long-term financing and strengthening of the Ukrainian arms industry. She also suggested that “it would be good” if the European Union introduced the same sanctions as those imposed by the US on Russian oil companies.

Frederiksen said that allied countries belonging to the coalition of the willing should make a decision before Christmas Eve regarding financing aid to Ukraine for the coming years.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said Russia was the “only party rejecting the ceasefire” and that increasing pressure was the only way to change that. He added that the Netherlands will “do its part” to prevent Russia's shadow fleet from operating in the North Sea.

During the press conference, one of the journalists asked politicians whether the sanctions on Russian oil and gas were not imposed “three and a half years too late”, adding that since the beginning of the war in 2022, EU countries have purchased Russian energy for over EUR 215 billion.

– Better now than never – Zelensky replied. Starmer added that Britain, the Coalition of the Willing countries, the European Union and other allies have been working for months and years to impose energy sanctions on Russia.

The meeting in London was personally attended by the President of Ukraine, the prime ministers of Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden and the Secretary General of NATO. Another 20 leaders joined them remotely. Among them was the new Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi, for whom it was her first meeting on the international stage since taking office.

Marta Zabłocka (PAP)

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