ENERGY POLICY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND THE EUROPEAN UNION IN 2022: STATE AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

This article discusses the actions of the Russian Federation and the EU (as well as its member countries) in relation to each other within the framework of the energy direction in 2022. The paper defines the background and the position of the two sides in the corresponding area at the time of January-mid-February. It is stated that the European Union pursued a more proactive policy, directly linking it with its interests in the energy field. In turn, the Russian Federation used the energy sector not so much as one of its policy tools, but to establish contacts with other European countries.
The measures and steps taken by the Russian Federation and the EU throughout the year in connection with the intensification of their confrontation and increased open antagonism are studied in detail. Among the most drastic changes that have taken place in the policies of the two countries are the curtailment of most ties and joint projects at the state and private levels, the achievement of an unprecedented level of anti-Russian sanctions, the suspension of a significant part of the energy infrastructure and the reorientation to other directions of export and import of energy resources. A separate important component of the changes was the increased volatility of prices in the global oil and gas markets. It is concluded that the events of 2022 have marked a «point of no return» in relations between the Russian Federation and the European Union in the energy field.
Not least, this is due to the lack of interest on the part of some actors at this phase in returning to the “status quo”. All sustained and possible losses of a varied nature on both sides determine their desire to end the conflict solely on their own terms. It is noted that the EU continues to demonstrate greater readiness and ability to make decisions aimed at defending interests in the energy sector than the Russian Federation. The article outlines possible ways of further development of the situation in the coming years. The further escalation of conflict with an extremely low probability of its completion in the short term is characterised as the most probable.