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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · 23h

EU ambassadors today failed to finalize their position on Brussels’ landmark plan to end imports of Russian gas by the end of 2027 after persisting technical concerns over the text.
w/ @gabrielgavin.bsky.social

pro.politico.eu/news/206123

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SourceMaterial @source-material.org · 3d

The Shadow Fleet shipping Russia's oil is already leaving trails of oil in its wake, raising the question of who will pay up if the worst is to happen.

Our latest investigation with @victorjack.bsky.social of @politico.eu, using data from @skytruth.org.
www.source-material.org/shadow-fleet...

Shadow fleet slicks test limits of EU sanctions – SourceMaterial

As the West continues to blacklist ship carrying Russian oil, new slicks near Europe’s shores test the limits of Western sanctions

www.source-material.org

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · 3d

NEW: Russian-linked vessels are continuing to leak oil off Europe’s shores — despite Western sanctions — underscoring the continent’s inability to rein in Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet.

Read our joint investigation with @source-material.org here:

www.politico.eu/article/russ...

Russia’s blacklisted tankers keep dumping oil in Europe’s seas

Shadow fleet vessels sailed unimpeded in EU waters after leaving slicks near the continent.

www.politico.eu

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · 5d

NEW: The European Parliament will push for an accelerated Russian gas ban by late-2026 and an end to Moscow's oil imports by the end of this year, per a provisional deal by POLITICO.

pro.politico.eu/news/205873

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Laura Kayali @laukaya.bsky.social · 15d

What are NATO’s rules of engagement? How can they be changed? Why didnt NATO shot down the Russian warplanes last week? Read our explainer, with @victorjack.bsky.social www.politico.eu/article/nato...

Finger on the trigger: How NATO is responding to Russia’s airspace violations

NATO is a defensive alliance, which makes it very cautious about responding with force to Russia’s provocations.

www.politico.eu

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · 12d

pro.politico.eu/news/205440

EU countries are considering easing reporting requirements for tracking Russian gas imports to the bloc as part of Brussels’ mooted supply ban, per a doc obtained by POLITICO.

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · 22d

The EU plans to propose sanctions on more Chinese companies this week, just as Donald Trump pressures the bloc to slap sweeping tariffs on Beijing as a condition for more sanctions on Russia.

www.politico.eu/article/eu-c... w/ @camgijs.bsky.social @zimmerfrau.bsky.social @gabrielgavin.bsky.social

EU plans more sanctions on China. Will that be enough for Trump?

Donald Trump says he’ll slap a harsh embargo on the Kremlin if Brussels turns the screws on China, but EU diplomats suspect the U.S. president is stalling.

www.politico.eu

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · 23d

www.politico.eu/article/quit...

If Donald Trump is going to slap sanctions on Russia, there are a few things he’d like NATO allies to do first.

But meeting some of these demands will be easier than others. w/ @camgijs.bsky.social @zimmerfrau.bsky.social @gabrielgavin.bsky.social

Quit Russian oil? For the EU, Trump’s other demands are even harder.

From facing down Hungary and Slovakia to taking on Turkey and China, meeting the U.S. president’s requests will be challenging.

www.politico.eu

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · 26d

NEW: EU countries are considering giving companies an extra six weeks to comply with an incoming ban on Russian gas, according to a negotiation document obtained by POLITICO.

pro.politico.eu/news/204632

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · Jul 7

NEW: EU countries will discuss a proposal that casts doubt on a suggested 2026 deadline for the bloc to end short-term Russian gas contracts.

pro.politico.eu/news/201485

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · Jun 17

It also wants customs officials to make countries like Serbia give evidence their gas exports do not come from Russia.

Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · Jun 17

NEW: The EU wants to ban LNG terminal services for Russian customers as part of its plan to end the bloc's reliance on Moscow, a draft text shows.

pro.politico.eu/news/200349

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · Jun 4

NEW: The EU's two biggest buyers of Russian liquefied natural gas are refusing to endorse Brussels' plan to ban Moscow’s imports.

France and Belgium argue they need more reassurances on the economic and legal consequences of the move before making a decision.

www.politico.eu/article/eus-...

EU’s top Russian LNG buyers refuse to back Brussels’ gas ban

France and Belgium are seeking more reassurances on Brussels’ proposal to gradually end Russian gas purchases by 2027.

www.politico.eu

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · May 27

NEW: EU countries are considering demanding that Brussels revisit methane emission rules being swept into trade negotiations with the U.S.

That comes after Trump gave the EU a temporary reprieve from imposing blanket 50% tariffs on the bloc. pro.politico.eu/news/199309

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · May 21

NEW: EU countries are considering ordering the Commission to prepare a detailed impact assessment on its upcoming Russian gas ban.

Despite a large majority of capitals backing the plan, Hungary and Slovakia remain fiercely opposed. pro.politico.eu/news/199022

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · Apr 9

The EU is planning to slash natural gas purchase targets — even as U.S. President Donald Trump insists that buying more gas is the only way to end his trade war.

www.politico.eu/article/dona...

Trump wants Europe to pay more for gas. The EU wants to spend less.

The White House is pushing Europe to spend billions more on energy imports. That’s going to be difficult if it blows up the world economy.

www.politico.eu

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · Apr 8

NEW: EU countries provisionally agree on loosening gas storage rules, per diplomats.

pro.politico.eu/news/eu-coun...

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · Apr 7

Since 2023, the Baltic Sea has seen at least 11 subsea cables taken out by suspected sabotage.

That poses a growing conundrum for EU governments in their evolving hybrid war with Russia — and experts warn it could just be the beginning.

Reed our deep dive here: www.politico.eu/article/russ...

Europe’s new war with Russia: Deep sea sabotage

Suspicious Russian tankers keep slashing Europe’s internet and power cables. It’s not an act of war … but someday it might be.

www.politico.eu

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · Mar 27

The EU Commission is considering revising landmark energy legislation as part of its drive to ease requirements on the EU’s struggling businesses, per two people familiar with the matter.

That might form part of a future "omnibus" simplification package, they said. next.politico.eu/news/196281

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · Mar 27

ICYMI: At today's ENVI Council, France proposed introducing a "price corridor" into the EU's emissions trading scheme.

They also suggested the EU do more to slash red tape and prevent "leakage" from its carbon levy with Slovakia and Italy.

next.politico.eu/news/196254 next.politico.eu/news/196254

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · Mar 19

The EU is discussing a new plan that would harness Ukraine’s mammoth underground gas storage capacity to resolve a long-standing feud between Kyiv and Slovakia, per officials.

But experts are skeptical it would work without subsidies. pro.politico.eu/news/195781

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · Mar 17

EU energy chief Dan Jørgensen needs more power to develop traditional nuclear plants in addition to next-generation small reactors.

That's according to a draft statement from the bloc’s pro-atomic alliance seen by POLITICO. pro.politico.eu/news/195664

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · Mar 4

And now the backtrack:

In a spectacular U-turn, the EU will present its proposal to extend mandatory gas-filling targets on Wednesday after all, according to a Commission official, reversing an earlier decision to postpone it to next month.

pro.politico.eu/news/194984

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · Mar 4

The EU will likely postpone a proposal to extend mandatory gas-filling targets until Apr. 9, shelving its previous plans to unveil the plan on Wednesday.

pro.politico.eu/news/194978

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Victor Jack @victorjack.bsky.social · Mar 3

The EU will this week propose to keep targets for refilling winter gas storage facilities mandatory, according to two European Commission officials, including interim goals.

That comes despite pleas by countries like Germany to make the goals more flexible.

pro.politico.eu/news/194846

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