U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will push again on Russia’s makes an attempt to “weaponize energy” and rally assist for a Ukrainian counteroffensive when he meets NATO international ministers in Brussels subsequent week, an official mentioned on Thursday.
A gathering of the U.S.-EU Energy Council will give attention to joint efforts to “blunt Russia’s attempts to weaponize energy … (and) bolstering energy supplies for the coming winters,” Dereck Hogan, the State Department’s principal deputy assistant secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, instructed reporters.
The European Commission on Monday proposed that EU nations prolong for a yr an emergency measure to curb fuel demand for the subsequent 12 months, to assist put together Europe to get by way of subsequent winter with scarce Russian fuel.
Russia reduce off most fuel provides to Europe within the months following its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine – squeezing provide and triggering record-high costs.
Talks between international ministers from the NATO alliance may have “a heavy focus on Ukraine” however will even contact on countering China within the Indo-Pacific, Hogan mentioned.
NATO has despatched massive quantities of weapons and different support to Ukraine since Russia invaded, which has additionally spurred strikes to broaden the alliance.
“We need to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs to be able to mount a successful counteroffensive and then of course be able to hold on to what they do gain,” Hogan mentioned.
The high U.S. diplomat will meet with European Union High Representative and Vice President Josep Borrell, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dymtro Kuleba in Belgium on Tuesday and Wednesday, the State Department mentioned.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
