EU: We are too dependent on Russian gas

Ursula Von der Leyen made a statement on the "EU response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine".

Noting that the EU Foreign Ministers had reached a political consensus on the new sanctions package against Russia at their meeting in Paris today, Von der Leyen reiterated that Russia's decision to recognize the so-called Donetsk People's Republic and the so-called Luhansk People's Republic and send troops to the region is unacceptable.

Von der Leyen said: "Russia produced this crisis and Russia is responsible for the current tensions. Now we will end the sanctions package quickly. We will coordinate closely with our partners as we have done so far."

Von der Leyen stated that the sanctions target people and companies responsible for Russia's actions and also stated that banks that finance the Russian army and contribute to the destabilization of Ukraine will be within the scope of the sanctions.

Von der Leyen stated that the two separatist regions will ban trade with the EU and limit the Russian government's ability to provide capital in EU financial markets.

"We are too dependent on Russian gas"

"We will make it as difficult as possible for the Kremlin to pursue aggressive policies." Von der Leyen said that she found Germany's decision to stop the approval process of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project to be correct.

Von der Leyen said, "North Stream 2 should be evaluated in light of the security of energy supply to the whole of Europe. Because this crisis has shown that Europe is still very dependent on Russian gas, we must diversify our suppliers and invest massively in renewable energy. This is a strategic investment in our energy independence."

Ursula Von der Leyen emphasized that if Russia escalates the crisis, they will take more steps.