Russia’s ambassador to international institutions in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, signaled that Europe may face a winter without Russian crude. He asserted that European nations will live without Russian oil this year, noting that Moscow has already indicated it will withhold supplies from countries backing a price cap that markets do not support. He also suggested the European Union would soon accuse Russia of using oil as a political tool, inviting readers to await a response on social media.
“Moscow won’t accept”
The Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitriy Peskov, commented on the EU’s price ceiling proposal, stressing that Russia will not accept the cap. He indicated that preparations for a ceiling had been made and that a quick analysis would determine how to organize the next steps. A Kremlin source quoted by TASS echoed this stance, saying the ceiling would not be accepted and that the process would be explained after evaluation.
Leonid Slutsky, leader of the LDPR, also rejected any price restrictions, stating that oil supplies would be halted to any country enforcing a ceiling—even if such measures were to occur. He argued that the move would strengthen energy insecurity for Europe and stressed that the attempt to cap prices reflected the ambitions of distant partners rather than practical gains for Europeans.
He suggested that the EU’s approach would undermine its own energy security and argued that Europeans should not expect support from overseas partners in the effort to force price limits.
“Not a war in the sense of international law”
The German government’s press service issued a clarification indicating that Moscow is not conducting an energy war against Germany. This followed comments by German Finance Minister Christian Lindner that had described a perceived energy war. The press service emphasized that the term is symbolic and not a formal armed conflict under international law, and it noted that Russia uses energy leverage to press political goals, not as a war in legal terms.
At the same time, Berlin reminded that sanctions against Moscow remain in effect and that Germany continues to comply with those measures.
ceiling from $60
On December 2, the European Council set a price ceiling of $60 per barrel for Russian oil, with a mechanism to review the policy. The aim is to constrain Russia’s economic capabilities so that it cannot sustain its war efforts in Ukraine. Initially, some states pressed for a much lower cap, while most participants settled on the $60 range, with debates over whether to cap at $30, $65, or $70 being resolved in favor of $60.
That same day, the G7 nations and Australia announced their agreement to cap Russian oil at $60 per barrel, with a review every two months to ensure the rate remains at least 5% below typical market levels. Earlier in the year, during discussions about price ceilings, President Vladimir Putin signaled that Russia would not supply resources abroad if it harmed Russia’s interests. He stated that Moscow would not provide energy resources to countries that restrict prices, emphasizing a stance at the Russian Energy Week forum.
Attribution: Coverage based on official statements and subsequent government communications. Reporters note the ongoing debate among Western allies regarding price ceilings and energy security.