In the midst of the gas crisis, the United States and the European Union have formed a task force to wean Europe off Russian fuel

In the face of Moscow’s war on Ukraine, the United States and the European Union announced a task force on Friday aimed at reducing Europe’s reliance on Russian fossil fuels. The initiative, announced by President Joe Biden and EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen, will see the US work with partners to supply Europe with an additional 15 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas this year, according to a statement. The move comes as EU member states debate whether to impose a ban on Russia’s key energy exports as retaliation for President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The Baltics and Poland are urging their counterparts to pull the trigger, but others, including economic powerhouse Germany, are wary of imposing a sudden break given their reliance on Russian gas imports. Germany announced Friday that it would drastically reduce its energy purchases from Russia in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, with oil imports being cut in half by June and coal deliveries ending in the autumn.

The EU has already announced ambitious plans to cut its Russian gas imports by two-thirds this year and eliminate them entirely by the end of the decade.

As part of the task force, the EU’s executive said it will collaborate with member states “to ensure, until at least 2030, demand for approximately 50 billion cubic meters per year of additional US supply.”

This Task Force for Energy Security will be chaired by a White House representative and a representative of the President of the European Commission, according to the statement.

“It will work to ensure energy supplies for Ukraine and the EU in preparation for this next winter and the one after that, while also supporting the EU’s goal of reducing its reliance on Russian fossil fuels.”

Europe faces a significant challenge in substituting Russian gas supplies, with Moscow supplying approximately 150 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

According to the EU’s statistics agency, US gas supplies to the EU accounted for 6.3 percent in the first half of 2021.