Warsaw: Poland has called on the European Union to accelerate its phase-out of Russian crude oil imports, setting a new deadline of the end of 2026 instead of the currently planned January 2028. The proposal comes at a time of heightened security concerns in Central Europe, with Warsaw warning that continued reliance on Moscow’s energy resources poses significant geopolitical and strategic risks.
Poland’s Energy Minister, Milosz Motyka, has formally appealed to EU counterparts, urging the bloc to adopt a common commitment to eliminate Russian oil imports within the next 15 months. In a letter circulated to member states, Motyka argued that a shorter timeline would not only reduce Europe’s vulnerability to Moscow’s pressure but also demonstrate unity in confronting security threats. He said Poland stands ready to assist fellow EU members in shifting away from Russian crude, including support with infrastructure adjustments and sourcing alternatives.
The demand follows recent tensions on Poland’s eastern frontier, including a drone incursion from Russian territory that underscored Warsaw’s concerns about energy dependence and security exposure. “Recent events clearly show the dangers of maintaining links to Russia’s energy exports,” Motyka noted, stressing that Moscow continues to use energy as a strategic weapon in Europe.
The European Union has already adopted a gradual exit from Russian fossil fuels, setting January 1, 2028, as the official deadline. While many countries reduced or fully suspended purchases after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, several member states notably Hungary and Slovakia remain dependent on Russian oil supplied through the Druzhba pipeline. Their reliance, coupled with economic costs, has been a major obstacle to reaching consensus on an earlier cutoff.
Warsaw is positioning itself as a key transit hub for non-Russian energy. Poland has expanded its liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure, securing increased shipments from the United States and other partners. Motyka suggested that these networks could not only meet Poland’s needs but also support neighboring EU states that are struggling to replace Russian supplies. By accelerating the transition, Poland hopes to strengthen Europe’s energy resilience and reduce Moscow’s influence over the bloc.
An earlier deadline would not be without challenges. Analysts warn that cutting Russian imports by 2026 could raise costs and strain supply chains, particularly for countries that lack immediate access to alternative energy sources. However, supporters of the Polish proposal argue that the price of short-term disruptions is far lower than the long-term cost of remaining tied to Moscow’s energy exports.
EU energy ministers are expected to discuss the Polish proposal in upcoming meetings, with the European Commission signaling openness to reassessing the current timeline. President Ursula von der Leyen has previously called for reducing Russian energy dependence “as swiftly as possible,” but no consensus has yet emerged on whether the bloc is prepared to advance the deadline by two years.
Poland’s intervention is likely to sharpen debates within the EU about how far and how fast the bloc can go in untangling itself from Russia’s energy grip a question that carries both political weight and practical consequences for the continent’s energy security.