Europe is on the verge of a turning point in its long-running struggle to give up Russian gas. In less than six months, the European Union will halt the last supplies of Russian liquefied natural gas, marking an important step in its effort to prevent the Kremlin from using its abundant energy resources to finance its war machine. The New York Times writes about this.

To get through this transition, Europe has significantly increased fuel imports, especially from the United States. American producers currently supply about two-thirds of Europe’s liquefied natural gas, and that share could rise to 80% by the end of the decade.

However, relations between the United States and Europe are in poor condition, undermined by Trump’s frequent threats to impose tariffs, his periodic demands to establish control over Greenland, and disagreements over the U.S. decision to go to war with Iran.

This has caused deep concern among leaders in the defense and energy sectors, who fear that as Europe frees itself from the grip of Russia’s gas monopoly, it is giving Washington — and an unpredictable American president — excessive influence over its domestic energy policy.

Seeking to break this vicious cycle of dependence on the United States, as well as other countries, once and for all, European leaders last week presented a plan to electrify the continent. The European Commission aims to move quickly toward its own renewable energy sources.

The proposal is intended to deprive foreign energy suppliers of their leverage while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering energy costs.