A handout photo made available by Ukrainian Foreign Ministry press service shows Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (C) meeting with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas (C-L), German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (C-R), Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani (3-R), Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski (2-R), Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic-Radman (R), and Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze (2-L) at the railway station in Kyiv, Ukraine, 31 March 2026, amid the Russian invasion. EU foreign ministers are convening for an informal meeting in Kyiv on 31 March 2026, to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre. EPA/UKRAINE FOREIGN MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES In a letter to energy ministers, dated March 30 and seen by Reuters, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said governments were "encouraged to make timely preparations in anticipation of a potentially prolonged disruption".
Europe's heavy reliance on imported fuel means the continent is very exposed to the Middle East conflict's impact on global energy prices. European gas prices have jumped more than 70% since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28.
The bloc's supplies of crude oil and natural gas have not been hit directly by the closure of key shipping route the Strait of Hormuz, since Europe imports most of those energy sources from suppliers outside of the Middle East.
However, Jorgensen said Brussels was particularly concerned in the short term about Europe's supply of refined petroleum products such as jet fuel and diesel.
Governments should avoid taking any measures that would increase fuel consumption, limit trade of petroleum products, or disincentivise output at European refineries that handle these products, the letter said.
"Member States are encouraged to defer any non-emergency refinery maintenance," the letter added.
(Reporting by Kate Abnett; Editing by Inti Landauro and Susan Fenton)