BRUSSELS (AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday is anticipated to announce elevated shipments of liquefied pure gasoline to Europe, a part of a long-term initiative to wean the continent off Russian power after the invasion of Ukraine.
He plans to debate the problem with Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Union’s govt arm, shortly earlier than leaving for Poland, the ultimate leg of his four-day journey.
Earlier this week, Von der Leyen mentioned “we’re aiming at having a dedication for extra provides for the following two winters.” And Jake Sullivan, Biden’s nationwide safety adviser, just lately informed reporters that the administration needs to shortly “surge” gasoline to Europe.
Russian power is a key supply of revenue and political leverage for Moscow. Virtually 40% of the European Union’s pure gasoline comes from Russia to warmth houses, generate electrical energy and energy trade.
After leaving Brussels, Biden travels to Rzeszów in Poland, the place U.S. troops are based mostly roughly an hour’s drive from the Ukrainian border. He’ll get a briefing on the humanitarian response to the refugees streaming out of Ukraine and people nonetheless struggling contained in the nation. And Biden will meet with U.S. service members from the 82nd Airborne Division, who serve alongside Polish troops.
Biden is then anticipated to proceed on to Warsaw, the place he’ll meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda on Saturday.
Earlier than returning to Washington, the White Home mentioned, Biden will give an tackle “on the united efforts of the free world to assist the individuals of Ukraine, maintain Russia accountable for its brutal battle, and defend a future that’s rooted in democratic ideas.”
Whereas in Brussels, Biden participated in a trio of summits hosted by NATO, the Group of Seven industrialized nations and the European Union, all on Thursday. The extraordinary collection of conferences displays heightened considerations in regards to the battle in Ukraine, which has entered its second month.
Though Ukraine has resisted the Russian invasion rather more efficiently than initially anticipated, the battle has change into a grueling and bloody affair, with hundreds of casualties on either side and thousands and thousands of refugees fleeing the nation.
Western leaders are additionally involved that Russian President Vladimir Putin may use chemical and even nuclear weapons to regain momentum within the battle.
Getting extra liquefied pure gasoline to Europe might be troublesome, although the U.S. has been dramatically growing its exports in recent times. Many export services are already working at capability, and most new terminals are nonetheless solely within the planning levels.
Most U.S. shipments already go to Europe, in keeping with the Middle for Liquefied Pure Fuel, an trade lobbying group. Though a lot of the provision is already contracted out to patrons, there’s nonetheless alternatives to shift its vacation spot.
“The U.S. is in a singular place as a result of it has versatile LNG that may be rerouted to Europe or to Asia, relying on who’s keen to pay that value,” mentioned Emily McClain, gasoline markets analyst at Rystad.
Even when the U.S. can ship extra gasoline to Europe, the continent could battle to obtain it. Import terminals are positioned in coastal areas, the place there are fewer pipeline connections for distributing it.
Even when all Europe’s services had been working at capability, the quantity of gasoline would possible be solely about two-thirds of what Russia delivers by means of pipelines.
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Bussewitz reported from New York.