France, which relies on nuclear for the bulk of its electricity supply, has been pushing to allow a greater role for the technology in the energy transition.

Russia has taken control of other energy assets owned by Western investors since the war started.

There is sufficient energy in nuclear 'waste' to run Europe at current electrical power consumption" for between 600 and 1000 years.

The EU says its sanctions are meant to cut Moscow revenues and access to technology used in war.

Europe’s appetite for new LNG projects is pushing the continent to boost its import capacity by one-third, but the mismatch between future LNG demand and import facilities might result in 200-250 billion cubic metres (bcm) of unused capacity by 2030.

Two camps, one led by Germany and the other by France, are fighting it out, each with a blocking minority on a specific point: Should low-carbon hydrogen be taken into account when measuring the efforts of member states to reach the target of 45% of renewables in their energy mix by 2030?

"Every politician knows who blew up Nord Stream, but hypocritically keeps quiet," says Vucic.

As the EU pushes more broadly to bolster clean energy, it’s also responding to concerns that green industries could emigrate to the US and China, with the price that Europe pays for its energy a driving factor.

Prior to the sanctions, between October 2021 and September 2022, diesel imports from Russia made up 53% of Northwest Europe’s seaborne imports.

The EU banned imports of Russian oil products from Feb. 5, two months after imposing restrictions on seaborne crude shipments from the country.