In the final weeks before President Joe Biden leaves the White House, Washington is continuing efforts to block Russian energy exports, imposing new sanctions aimed at curbing the proceeds Moscow uses to finance aggression in Ukraine, it says. Assistant Secretary of State, Geoffrey Pyatt.
Over the past two weeks, Mr. Pyatt was in Europe and Asia to discuss energy security with allied countries and the G7 + Ukraine group on energy issues.
In an interview with VOA Ukrainian-language reporter Oksana Bedratenko, Mr. Pyatt says Europe should use December 31, when the gas transit contract between Ukraine and Russia expires, to decisively end its dependence from Russian energy, reports A2.
He says the stance of Europe, which sees US liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a potential solution to the bloc's energy security, is encouraging. Mr. Pyatt points out that even Japan, which imports 10% of its gas from Russia, understands the need to find alternative energy suppliers.
Below is the summary of the interview.
VOA: Over the past few weeks, Russia has carried out several massive attacks on Ukraine's energy sector. With all Ukraine's preparations ahead of winter and the help of its allies, how do you rate the stability of the energy sector in Ukraine?
Geoffrey Pyatt, Assistant Secretary of State: It was known that the coming of winter would be a very fragile period, but the good news is that support for Ukraine, for energy workers, is stronger than ever. We saw another brutal attack on Friday, especially in western Ukraine, in Lviv, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk....which is the bitterest part of winter. So we know we have to keep working together. I just got back from a two week trip. I was in Tokyo after stops in Paris and London. The message I heard again and again from all our G7 partners was a very clear commitment to do everything we can to ensure that Russia's winter efforts fail.
Voice of America: The gas transit contract between Russia and Ukraine expires at the end of this year. Do you think Europe is prepared for this? There has already been pressure on Ukraine to continue gas transit. Do you think this will actually be the end of Europe's dependence on Russian gas?
Pyatt: I certainly hope that happens. And more importantly, the pressure I see comes from only one or two places. I appreciate the weekend statements by EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen, who make very clear the need to make progress in ending dependence on Russian energy, be it gas, nuclear or other forms, in line with the objective of the EU to reach zero by 2027. Obviously, Brussels and Kiev have to make some decisions in the next two weeks. In the long term, it is very clear that energy and gas trade in particular has been the main element of Russian influence on the Ukrainian economy since independence. The question arises, why would anyone be interested in continuing this relationship?
VOA: Europe has bought more liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia. Are there plans for more sanctions on Russian liquefied natural gas projects?
Pyatt: We welcome Europe's steps. Just today [December 15], the 15th package of sanctions, which is quite substantial. I have said publicly on several occasions recently that there will be more from President Biden's administration. I am very sure of that. We are working hard to maintain coordination between Washington, Brussels, London. This was part of the visit to Europe two weeks ago. The pace of operations is slightly different for everyone. I appreciate Commissioner Jorgensten's position on the important role of American liquefied gas as part of the solution for the European energy sector. I am very confident that we will continue to tighten the loop of Russian energy exports. We will do everything we can to cut Putin's energy trade income, which goes to pay for the North Korean missiles and Russian drones that are destroying Ukraine's civilian infrastructure every day of the week.
VOA: As we look ahead to the coming year, US support for Ukraine may wane. Do you think Europe and other allies are ready to continue supporting Ukraine's energy sector?
Pyatt: Everyone is stepping up their efforts now. The Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, recently signed with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, the second Memorandum of Understanding on energy. This is $825 million in additional aid to the energy sector from the United States alone. This very high level of US aid has been surpassed by the aid that has come from the G7 plus other partners. It is an important point that it is not only the United States that provides this aid, as in fact most of the aid to the energy sector has come from the G7 plus other countries.
Voice of America: In the Memorandum of Understanding, great attention has been paid to the protection of Ukrainian companies from political influence. How important are reforms in Ukraine, even during the war?
Pyatt: As you know, I have been working on these reform issues for 10 years. I appreciate the progress achieved, they are real. An example is the improved production figures from Naftogaz. The increase in production probably has to do with better management, maybe it has to do with the transparency that has eliminated theft. However, the result is positive and more work is required. Ukraine will not become a member of the European Union overnight. But fulfilling the aspirations expressed by the Ukrainian people during the revolution of dignity, when I was ambassador in Kiev, is just as important today. The compliance of the Ukrainian energy sector with the highest European standards and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is an integral part of the great process of membership in the European Union./Voice of America (A2 Televizion)
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