Posted on 03/06/2022 2:16:18 PM PST by blam
At a time when US officials are saying virtually every day that the US is in “active discussions” to ban Russian oil imports, Germany’s economy minister said that while he regrets the country is still dependent on imports from Moscow, he warned against a comprehensive ban on energy imports from Russia.
As Dutesche Welle reports, “Germany is currently still dependent on Russian fossil fuels”, Economy Minister Robert Habeck said on Thursday; he spoke out against a ban on energy imports from Russia in the wake of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
“I would not advocate an embargo on Russian imports of fossil fuels. I would even oppose it,” he said after meeting German business leaders. “We need these energy supplies to maintain the price stability and energy security in Germany,” Habeck added, warning that “a shortage in supply could threaten social cohesion in Germany.”
Habeck stressed Germany “must free ourselves” from imports of Russia’s gas, coal, and oil. In February, Germany stopped the controversial Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline. It has since joined other European nations in introducing a raft of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Berlin even overturned its longstanding practice of blocking weapons exports to conflict zones.
Habeck, however, said Germany has already begun to feel the effects of those decisions.
“The impact of the sanctions and of the war on all sectors of the economy is so strong that we can fear a big impact,” Habeck said. The minister said any hopes that Europe’s largest economy would return to post-pandemic levels later this year were dashed.
“We had hoped that we will experience an upswing this spring, a recovery phase. But now we have the consequences of the war,” he warned. Habeck urged consumers do their bit by reducing consumption. “If you want to hurt Putin a little, then save energy,” he said.
The German government has vowed to make cheap credit available through its public lender KfW to help compensate for some of the losses.
Habeck said he hoped measures taken by the government to alleviate the impact of sanctions and high energy prices on businesses and households would avert a recession.
“And it must be said once again that it is Vladimir Putin alone who has burdened the global community with these consequences,” he added.
What is more important? Social cohesion or keeping Greta Thunberg happy?
There needs to be a free flow of fuel, fertilizer, and fuel.
That should not be impeded, physically or financially, to make political points.
Keeping the lights on, the trains running, the crops growing and delievered to stores, and for Germany and much of Europe, not freezing to death next winter.
Russia is likely to start demanding gold bullion as payment from Europe because their central bank’s reserve currency deposits have been frozen. Proving the ultimate worthlessness of holding another nation’s currency as stable, secure depositories of wealth.
Get ready for a wild ride.
Germany needs to admit it’s turning to green energy was an absolute failure as well as getting rid of its nuclear power plants. But those arrogant Germans listening to a demented teenager and being intimidated by her, they destroyed their own economy.
But the Germans are hypocrites who didn’t pay their part to NATO.
Their military is laughable. They want us to continue to protect their lazy asses, while mocking and hating on own US Military. Put your own young people at risk. We should have moved our bases to Poland where we are appreciated when Trump was President.
They had no problems pointed their elitist fingers at the US and mocking Trump.
I have ZFG about those twats.
Good point.
Thanks for bringing that up. What will happen to those commodities?
All of the fake wealth, like crypto, NFTs and such mean nothing f the internet is down.
If you can’t use the banks anymore, what do desperate people do?
Try to steal my stuff!
Screw Germany. They made their bed 🛌.
Except in the USA. The higher our energy costs, the better because globull warming.
But we’re so green, look at us...
What’s your pronoun y’all?! And how do you identify? Go to Twitter or TikTok and let the world know. Don’t forget to post the sanctioned support ribbons and flags! If you deviate, you will be banned and canceled.
The Barney policy of the west has failed.
I love you
You love me
We’re a happy family
With a great big hug
And a kiss from me to you
Won’t you say you love me too?
I love you
You love me
We’re best friends like friends should be
With a great big hug
And a kiss from me to you
Won’t you say you love me too?
To be fair, the antinuke stuff began long before the demented teenager.
They should have lisened to Trump. Rely on USA not Russia. But....NOOOO! Idiots.
“There needs to be a free flow of fuel, fertilizer, and fuel.
That should not be impeded, physically or financially, to make political points.”
The problem is the childish mentality that believes it can provoke and sanction all they want to our satisfaction, and is shocked and horrified that the target is just as willing to make you suffer in return.
It’s like a mugger being indignant when someone fights back.
What will they do when the Russians turn the tap off?
They won't be able to live a 'developed world' life style.
They've worked themselves into a 'dark age.'
(I did read that they've delayed turning off the last two nuclear reactors there.)
Do you oppose sanctions on Iran then?
What happened to the idea of getting alternate sources of oil? The first step is cutting off the Green Weenies!
Visiting down in South Florida, which always had cheap gas. $3.39 a gallon when my trip started on Friday. $4 a gallon just now. Unreal. Ironically, talking to a brain dead democrat Biden voter and this is all because of greedy corporations and the Russians. These people are hopeless, but the media propaganda machine keeps feeding them this BS. Will the unwashed masses buy it? Who knows. Never underestimate the number of morons in this country.
ALTERNATIVE FOR GERMANY
Weidel condemns the attack - and criticizes the West
Alice Weidel condemns the Russian attack on Ukraine. However, the AfD faction leader does not see the Kremlin as responsible for the cause of the bloody conflict.
AfD co-leader Alice Weidel has criticized the Russian attack on Ukraine as contrary to international law, but at the same time complained that the West did not ensure neutrality for Kiev at an early stage.
The AfD would have liked timely efforts to “ put Ukraine and all other neighboring countries on a neutral status and not keep pushing the borders of NATO’s eastward expansion,” said Weidel on Sunday in the ARD “Morgenmagazin”. At the same time, she emphasized: “With regard to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, there can be no two opinions: it violates international law, and accordingly it is condemnable.”
When asked whether a corresponding promise of neutrality could have dissuaded Russian President Vladimir Putin from attacking, Weidel said the Russians had articulated the problem clearly for years. The US , too, did not tolerate hostile power in its backyard. Today there is the “problem of Russian insults as to why this war of aggression came about in the first place”. Weidel said: «The problem was Ukraine. The problem of the lack of neutrality status, and you slept through that.”
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