Nr2.com.ua: Bulgaria, Poland, Baltic states European leaders in coalition …
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Kyiv. A paradoxical situation is seen in Europe in which the countries with the heaviest economic and energy dependence on Russia are not afraid to take a tough stance on the Russian aggression, while the rest remain friends of the Kremlin in the hope of drawing the shady capitals of Russian oligarchs, Nr2.com.ua reported.
Pressure and sanctions on Moscow are actively backed by the countries suffering the most from them – Lithuania, Poland, and Estonia, a study has revealed.
Lithuania and Estonia are heavily dependent on Russian energy supplies. Therefore, demonstrative loyalty to Russia does not seem to be related to the energy “loophole around the neck”. This is also confirmed by the instance of the “16th republic” of the Soviet Union – Bulgaria. It is not less dependent on Russian fuel and remains among the EU countries most dependent on Russia. But this did not prevent Sofia from not only strongly condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine but also “suspending” 3 energy projects of Moscow. Widely spread Russophilia, historic ties, and the common religious also do not appear to be an obstacle for Sofia, which took an explicit stance on the Russian-Ukrainian war and firmly backs sanctions imposed on the aggressor.
However, Cyprus, Greece, Austria, and Italy display loyalty to Russia. And if their motives are examined in detail, it will be noticed they are rooted namely in the Kremlin’s promises about significant financial investments.
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