EU Foreign Policy Chief, Kaja Kallas, stated that the disconnection of the Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—from Russia’s energy network is a “victory for freedom.”
The three EU and NATO member states are set to cut their electricity ties with Moscow on Saturday, February 8, in a political move three decades after these nations were liberated from Kremlin rule.
“Russia can no longer use energy as a tool for blackmail,” said Kallas, the former Prime Minister of Estonia.
“This is a victory for freedom and European unity.”
For years, the Baltic states have been preparing to disconnect from the Soviet-era energy network and integrate into the European grid, but they have faced technological and financial challenges.
The disconnection from Russia’s energy network became more urgent after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which raised fears in the Baltic states that they could be the next target, as reported by REL.
Since the invasion, the Baltic states stopped purchasing Russian gas and energy, but their energy networks remained linked to Russia and Belarus, controlled by Moscow.
The EU, in general, has drastically reduced its consumption of Russian energy since the war began in Ukraine.
On Saturday, when the three Baltic states officially disconnect from the Russian network, official celebrations are expected, although some consumers are concerned about potential supply interruptions.
Latvia will physically disconnect the power line from Russia on Saturday, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will attend a ceremony with Baltic leaders, which will be held in Lithuania on the same day.
