"Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia, Bulgaria — they're going to produce a very nice plan where they'll put some milestones and targets," said Martin Vladimirov, director of energy and geoeconomics at the Center for the Study of Democracy. "But ultimately their politicians will insist it is too risky for their security of supply and ignore the plan, just as they have done with other plans on the phaseout of coal or on renewables."

In the meantime, he added, "Russia is gaining billions."