Co-Chair Cohen discusses dependence on Russian energy
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), co-chair of the Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today discussed Europe’s dependence on Russian oil and gas at a hearing entitled “European Energy Security Post-Russia.” He also questioned expert witnesses about the energy situation in Ukraine and alternatives to Russian energy in Europe.
In his opening remarks, Co-President Cohen said in part:
“As long as we depend on Russian energy, we are a hostage to this mad despot who would try to establish his place in history and do so soon, as if it mattered after his death, whether he was Peter the Great number two … because he dies like that. many Russian and Ukrainian soldiers and citizens of Ukraine – none of whom bother him…
“Putin thinks that if the war is over soon enough, we will forgive him because we need his oil and gas. But we will not. We need to find alternatives… We need to take advantage of this terrible situation to improve our energy options here and abroad and encourage our allies to do the same.
Watch his full opening remarks here.
Look at the witnesses he heard here.
At today’s hearing, witnesses were:
- Yuri Vitrenko, CEO, Naftogaz Ukraine;
- Constanze Stelzenmüller, Senior Research Fellow, Brookings Institution; and
- Benjamin Schmitt, Research Fellow, Harvard University and Senior Fellow, Democratic Resilience Program, Center for European Policy Analysis.
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