http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/08/business/EU-FIN-Belarus-Russia-Oil.php
Report: Belarus blocks Russian oil deliveries to Germany, Poland and Ukraine
People, be serious. Belarus and Russia are playing tricks with EU.
There is no "clash" between Russia and Belarus. Russia is using Belarus to doubple-play EU.
1. No one can acuse Russia for this, Russia is "innoscent"
2. EU is going to stop accusations of Lukashenko being dictator
3. EU is going to become new best buddie with Lukashenko.
basicaly, it is new energy crysiss like in 70es and 80es.
Russia is explaining to EU who is new boss in Europe.
Same like West hade to agree on islamoapeasement due to its dependence on middleeastern oil, now Russia is doing the same to Europe.
Thank God we bought Alaska!
Although everything is possible, I don’t think so. Russia is tired of Lukashenko who is not willing to give them what they want from him. I mean Belarusian pipelines in particular. Lukashenko also don’t want any formal merger with Russia, not even common currency. On the other hands Russians subsidized their economy by this very cheap gas and protected him on international arena. Current relationship with Belarus is very unprofitable for Russia.
Not very impressing. There is more than enough oil on the free market. Most refineries in Germany (espechially those in western Germany) can buy their oil elsewhere. Only those in the "far east" like Schwedt are dependent on Russian oil. This can be balanced. Although the Drushba-pipeline was closed, the oil-price in Germany is sinking due to the mild winter and a surplus on oil on the market.
From the German point of view this oil-stop is not bad since it triggers the discussion about a changed energy policy (nuclear energy; "energy-NATO or whatever"; a concerted policy in the EU etc.). The Poles are much more aware of the problem.
To Lizol: As far as I have heared the situation in Poland is more complicated than in Germany since you have not the possibility to balance this out. Is this true?