Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says that counting on Russian energy supplies during the war against Ukraine would be a "grave sin." He has welcomed Orlen's decision to stop purchasing Russian oil for its refinery in the Czech Republic, UkrInform reports.
As of June 2025, Russia’s oil export revenues have fallen to their lowest levels since the start of the war in Ukraine. However, the Iran-Israel conflict caused a significant surge in global oil prices, temporarily boosting Russia’s oil export revenues. The higher prices allowed Russia to earn over $1.3 billion from oil exports during a single week amid heightened tensions. Major buyers included India, China, Türkiye, and Syria.
The Polish company Orlen will cease buying Russian oil for its Czech refinery after 30 June. Tusk has emphasized that this decision is part of Poland’s and Europe’s strategy to minimize dependence on supplies from aggressive countries, including Russia.
“I don’t need to explain to anyone today that during a war, where Russia is the main negative actor, relying on Russian supplies for Polish energy would be a grave sin,” Tusk says.
In May, Orlen and Ukraine’s state oil and gas company, Naftogaz, signed a memorandum of strategic cooperation in several areas, which will also contribute to strengthening the region’s energy security.
According to Tusk, Poland’s energy independence from Russia has been hard-won, but the country now feels more secure on this front.
Read also
-
Bipartisan US senators say Trump’s Russian diesel deal conflicts with 2022 ban, as he presses Kyiv to spare Russian refineries
-
For years, Hungary tied Ukraine’s whole EU course to ethnic Hungarians’ language rights. Kyiv has now passed the schooling law meant to lift the block
-
EU blacklists 1,569 Russian arms suppliers and their bosses in its biggest sanctions round ever, as Trump eases up on Moscow
