Closure of Hormuz Strait helps Russia fund Ukraine War, EU warns

Tensions in the Middle East must not divert attention from the war in Ukraine, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said on Monday, warning that the two conflicts are “very much interlinked.”

Speaking ahead of discussions with EU member states, Kallas warned that easing U.S. sanctions on Russian oil sets “a dangerous precedent,” emphasizing that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz benefits Russia by helping fund its war.

Disruptions in the strait could affect not only oil and gas supplies but also fertilizer shipments, potentially leading to food shortages next year, Kallas said, adding that she raised the issue with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres.

EU leaders are expected to discuss possible steps to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open. “The needs to open the Strait of Hormuz are there, right now,” Kallas said, noting that while post-conflict plans are being discussed, the EU must first determine “what the Member States are willing to do” to address the immediate crisis.