EU-US Energy Cooperation As a Response to the Ukrainian Crisis

The paper investigates the impact the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea by Russia has on EU energy policy. The conflict in Ukraine illustrates very well the idea of ‘hybrid warfare’ in which Russia’s leverage in the energy field is used, among other instruments, against the EU and Ukraine. The European Union resorted to different strategies to decrease its energy dependence on Russia. Those strategies include the development of the Energy Union and enhanced EU-US relations in the field of energy.  The paper will focus on this latter aspect. The EU is now highly interested in reducing its energy dependence on Russia through transatlantic cooperation. At the same time, the Ukrainian crisis generated a renewed US interest in European security in general and European energy security in particular. The crisis determined the Obama administration to take policy measures that allow the shale revolution in the US to contribute to EU energy security. At the same time, the crisis triggered a reset in the US-Russia relations. US is now more willing to support EU energy plans considered in the past sensitive and potentially disturbing to Russia. In addition, if signed, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) will enhance the cooperation between the EU and the US in the field of energy. This paper draws on official documents and statements, as well as on interviews with high European and US officials directly involved in formulating energy policy.