Von Der Leyen accuses Putin of energy crisis in Europe; says 'Power market not working'

Europen Commission President Ursula von der Leyen blasted Russian President Vlimir Putin as 27-nation bloc reeled under a severe energy crisis. While speaking at Baltic Sea Summit on Tuesday, she claimed that electricity market is no more a functioning market because of Putin and blamed him for destroying EU energy market. 

" electricity market is no longer a functioning market because re is one actor, Putin, who is systematically trying to destroy it and to manipulate it. So we really have to react to that. And that is why we are dressing now composition of electricity market," she said. Notably, European Union has been imposing a series of sanctions on Moscow and its allies ever since Russian Federation attacked Ukraine on February 24 this year. 

Ever since Russia inved its neighbouring country, Ukraine, bloc has imposed back-to-back sanctions in order to penalise Moscow. EU countries also pledged to minimise ir dependence on Russian energy resources and imposed a partial embargo on Russian oil. However, on several occasions, Putin mocked EU's plan, saying it would backfire on bloc. In June this year, he called European and Western sanctions on Moscow a "m" step and claimed ban could le European Union to lose nearly $400 billion. 

Von Der Leyen accused Putin of "blackmail"

However, EU chief said that Russian leer is blackmailing union by limiting supply of gas ahe of heating season. During event on Tuesday, she asserted that bloc is accelerating green transition. "We are getting rid of dependency on Russian fossil fuels. And we are accelerating clean, cheaper and home-grown renewable energy," she said.
She said that block will promote wind energy and ded Baltic Sea offshore wind will cover energy consumption of around six million households by 2030. "We need regional cooperation to realise full potential of offshore wind in Europe. So European Commission strongly supports regional cooperation initiatives – such as this one," Von Der Leyen stressed.