WSJ: Putting America's Energy Leverage to Use

The violence on the border of Ukraine and Russia reached a horrendous level on July 17, when Russian-backed separatists shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, killing 298 innocent men, women and children. This horrific event brings even greater instability to the region five months after Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Crimea. Russia continues to intimidate and disrupt Ukraine's pro-Western government in Kiev and U.S. allies in Europe.

Mr. Putin's Russia also continues to exploit Ukraine and Europe's dependence on Russian energy, undermining support within the European Union for the tougher sanctions needed to deter further aggression. Currently, 13 European nations rely on Russia for more than half of their natural gas and four—Lithuania, Estonia, Finland and Latvia—depend on Russia for 100%. One quarter of all natural gas consumed in the EU is piped from Russia, much of it through Ukraine.
MORE