Posted on 09/06/2022 11:27:00 AM PDT by BeauBo
Russia said Tuesday that it would not resume natural gas flow to the European Union until sanctions are lifted, all but acknowledging that it is intentionally inflicting an energy crisis on Europe as a means of countering Western economic punishment for its invasion of Ukraine...
“It is important to recall that there is not just one gas pipeline from Russia to Europe,” European Commission energy spokesman Tim McPhie said Monday.
“If there was a technical problem which was impeding supplies via Nord Stream 1, there would be a possibility, if there was willingness, to deliver gas to Europe through other pipelines," he said. "That’s something we’re not seeing happening.”...
Gazprom announced it has “indefinitely” cut gas deliveries via Nord Stream 1, citing “equipment issues” at one of its compressor stations. That announcement came hours after the G-7 said Friday that it would implement a planned price cap on Russian oil exports beginning Dec. 5.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
I must've missed it in the news, what Russian borders did NATO send tanks across? When did they start bombing Russian cities?
Help please. I don't watch TV and I only know what I read on FR and the internet.
TIA.
There is also the option to increase usage of coal, which has indeed increased since this war began. And aside from fossil fuels, it looks like nuke is getting a boost as well.
Short-term, it's a PITA. But if they hang, it'll get sorted out.
Perhaps so. In which case, they'll be getting it anyway, won't they?
Whereas that doesn't work with spare parts and tech that aren't fungible. Long after Europe has recovered from the loss of Russian fuel, Russia will be suffering big-time from worn-out/broken/obsolete tech.
“I don’t understand why this isn’t obvious to everyone, for good or bad the sanctions the EU put on Russia why would they not respond”
The Europeans knew it. They established plans to get off Russian gas as quick as they can, and Russia adopted the approach of cutting them off before their announced schedule. They watched it happen to one Country after the next.
Poland said they would be independent of Russian gas when the new Norwegian pipeline is activated toward the end of the year, so Russia cut their gas in June. The pattern has been repeated with Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia; Finland and Bulgaria; The Netherlands and Denmark; and now Germany (the really big customer).
German planners did anticipate and prepare for this contingency. Their gas storage is already 85% full (over the minimum for Winter), and they still have enough coming in from elsewhere to keep building up stored gas, even after the Russian shut off.
This was likely the watershed moment of the energy war. Europe did not buckle, and the price of gas did not rise any further (actually dropped a bit).
Putin has played his energy card, throttling the pipeline flow all the way down. That was his big energy weapon - there is nothing comparable left for him to use.
It is still possible that European resolve may crack, but it seems that this was the culmination of Russia’s energy coercion, and that the economic pressure will increasingly disfavor Russia from here on out.
“Russia needs to convert the gas to money, and Europeans need the gas. It really hurts both sides.”
Europe has other options for supply, and the USA has been a big winner, signing some major new long term supply contracts.
Norway, Qatar, the Netherlands and Algeria are big winners of Russia’s former market share as well.
85% of the world is not sanctioning Russia.
I think they'll make out fine.
Oh, you’re so right. Those Warsaw Pact Stingers and HIMARS are amazing. You’re a real card but this stuff is too dangerous to diddle around with you acting the fool.
Italy is already buckling.
https://www.politico.eu/article/italys-salvini-says-west-should-rethink-sanctions-for-russia/
Multiple governments have already fallen, in Italy and the UK, both have new PMs.
Germany may have 85% storage of gas but it’s at prices that have nearly quadrupled, which will have enormous impact on the economy well into next year.
It’s not just gas and oil that comes from Russia, they are a huge exporter of wheat and fertilizer which will have long term effects on the prices paid at the grocery store.
Finally, Russia can sell all the gas it wants to other countries that have not sanctioned them, taking Russian gas/oil off the market will have a long-term detrimental effect on Western economies for the foreseeable future until other countries gear up to produce more fossil fuels which is not guaranteed at this point.
Putin has destroyed the hopes and dreams of the Russian people for a better life, likely for a generation.
**********
Tell that to the freezing, unemployed Brits and Germans who are trying to live on solar and wind energy.
The west, Germany/Uk etc. Sanctioned Russia. They are just sanctioning back. It's not magic.
At some point, Zelensky might decide it is not worth joining NATO at the price of having his people killed.
LOL, guess it’s a real bit@h when you attack someone and they hit back.
The childish EU lays on sanctions, refuses to pay for the gas, steals hundreds of billions in yachts, property, bullion, and cash, refuses to allow Nordstream 2 to flip the switch and turn on, cuts Russian access to SWIFT, then they are *shocked* that Russia shrugs and cuts off the gas pipe.
Idiot neocons and WEF simps. The first time sanctions against another country has devastated things at home.
“European Commission energy spokesman Tim McPhie said Monday.
“If there was a technical problem which was impeding supplies via Nord Stream 1, there would be a possibility, if there was willingness, to deliver gas to Europe through other pipelines,” he said. “That’s something we’re not seeing happening.”...”
Childish... the EU is utterly childish. Someone you are chest bumping and tormenting cuts you off. LOL
“The natural gas shutoff is deliberate Russian policy to inflict pain on European populations”
Amazing, isn’t it?
Ukraine will have to fold. They can’t keep up the manpower needed to resist. Their counteroffensive resulted in 3000 dead and 7000 wounded. (Or so says one propaganda machine)
“Multiple governments have already fallen, in Italy and the UK, both have new PMs.”
And yet they maintain the same policy of supporting the Ukraine. Public opinion and NATO obligations have endured Russia’s energy bullying, and now Russia has max’ed out what it can do on gas, to most of Europe. Didn’t work.
“Russia can sell all the gas it wants to other countries that have not sanctioned them”
No. the pipeline gas to Europe can’t physically be moved to other customers (oil largely can be, because most left on tanker ships, which can physically offload somewhere else). Pipelines and LNG terminals might be built in five or ten years, but finance and technical partners were withdrawn with the sanctions.
Russia is just burning off the gas that they used to sell to Europe. The volume of gas exports did not decline much until June. Since then, it has mostly been shut off. The full financial impact of that is just now working its way through the system, where most payments are monthly, with a grace period for settlement.
A few months of missed payments will play Hell with the Russian economy and Government finances. Russia has been more dependent on oil and gas revenues (half of GDP) than Saudi Arabia (1/3 of GDP).
They will likely print lots more new rubles (they have already been on a huge money printing spree), to pay the bills that gas revenues used to, but that just delays effects a few months, and moves around the impacts (rapid inflation next year). The real economy of actual activity (production, wages, etc.) is going to take a hit, as all the supporting industries for the former gas business suffer (supply chain and supporting industries, like restaurants in the gas towns).
Europe has planned out, costed out, and financed alternative sourcing of energy to replace Russian supplies. This Winter is the crunch, next Winter is still pricey, and then it is done.
Russia is screwed, and Putin did that to them.
New pipelines can and will be built, Russia will sell its entire supply of gas to China, Turkey, Hungry, India, all of South American and other countries not supporting the sanctions.
As long as the world economy runs on fossil fuels, which it will for the next few decades, Russia will never be without customers for its gas/oil, keep sanctioning them and removing their products from the world markets will has already driven prices up 4-fold and Russia will continue to make as much or more revenue even if sales drop.
You combine the sanctions with the Green Energy idiocy of the Western World and Russia will be a major player in world markets for a really long time.
Its more of a suicide pact. Certainly the Putin fanbois will never admit that their cries of The Russian Economy is performing magnificently! Putin has discovered the key to enduring prosperity -- export vast quantities of natural resources in exchange for digital currencies that you can't spend because of economic sanctions! are delusional. But even if the EU really does conclude Gee, putting our economic existence in the hands of Putin was not was not a good idea. it will takes years, and wise leadership, to remedy the situation.
Even if the EU's leadership were to be injected with wisdom, there about 75-85 days before the first average frost in Berlin, 90 days for Paris. A late, mild, winter may doom Putin. I would be surprised if the EU maintain sanctions throughout a severe, long, winter, or even very deeply into it.
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