Why did EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urge Southeast Asian nations to avoid Russian oil?

Kaja Kallas urged Southeast Asian nations to seek alternatives to Russian oil because 'the oil revenues are the revenues that Russia is using to fund this war (in Ukraine)', and the EU has a clear interest in stopping the war—hence its advocacy for diversifying energy sources away from Russia.

What geopolitical event does Kallas link to increased Russian oil revenue opportunities for Southeast Asia?

Kallas linked the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran—which led to the 'effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz', a critical global oil transit route handling about a fifth of the world's oil supplies—to heightened opportunities for Russia to sell oil to countries like Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia amid resulting fuel shortages.

EU Diplomat Urges Southeast Asian Nations to Seek Alternatives to Russian Oil

Apr 28, 2026

EU diplomat Kaja Kallas urged ASEAN nations to diversify oil sources away from Russia due to sanctions and Middle East conflicts. This follows reports that several Southeast Asian countries had previously sought Russian oil supplies.

reuters

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Kremlin says Druzhba oil supplies details are being discussed at a corporate level, RIA reports

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EU Diplomat Urges Southeast Asian Nations to Seek Alternatives to Russian Oil

EU Diplomat Urges Southeast Asian Nations to Seek Alternatives to Russian Oil

FAQ