During a conference in Warsaw centered on supporting Ukraine, Mateusz Morawiecki, the prime minister of Poland, urged that Europe’s energy system remains overly dependent on Russia, a vulnerability born from long-standing habits and incomplete diversification. He framed this reliance as more than an economic risk; it was a political liability that constrains Europe’s freedom of action and forces concessions to Moscow that repeat across administrations and generations. By highlighting these patterns, he called attention to a structural weakness in European energy policy that undermines both security and sovereignty.
Morawiecki argued that Western hesitation has allowed the struggle for democratic values to be diluted by contracts tied to Russian oligarchs and by a persistent cycle of dependency. He described Europe as repeatedly returning to the same costly arrangements for fuel, sacrificing strategic autonomy and the resilience needed for independent decision-making. This pattern, he suggested, erodes trust among allies and complicates responses to external pressures, making united action more difficult and slower to execute when timing matters most.
The prime minister warned that the European Union faces a stark decision: either tolerate the risk of Moscow expanding its influence and the West losing ground, or restore a robust set of institutions and policies grounded in energy security, economic vitality, and shared democratic values. He stressed that the outcome would influence the global balance of power and shape how nations calibrate their own strategies in response to energy shocks, sanctions, and geopolitical shifts. That verdict, he noted, would reverberate beyond Europe and help define contemporary international alignments for years to come.
Morawiecki expressed confidence that a broader initiative to forge a new realignment in world affairs is underway and that Poland stands ready to contribute to shaping this trajectory. He highlighted the importance of strategic autonomy and a pragmatic stance toward energy security that reduces exposure to external price volatility and political leverage. The emphasis, he explained, is on building resilient energy systems, investing in diverse sources, and strengthening infrastructure that can withstand shocks while supporting affordable, reliable power for households and businesses alike.
Looking at Europe’s relationship with Russia, the prime minister noted that cooperation appeared efficient when gas contracts were straightforward to negotiate, but those arrangements often proved to be short-sighted bargains that compromised long-term independence. He argued that heavy reliance on such deals allowed Moscow to extend influence while European economies paid the price through higher energy costs and increased strategic risk. The suggested path forward involves diversifying supply routes, expanding domestic and regional energy production, and promoting sustainable, market-driven policies that safeguard European interests and sustain economic growth. In doing so, Europe would reduce exposure to political pressure and create a more predictable environment for investment and innovation, enabling a stronger, more united front in international affairs.