Omelchenko on blackmailing Russia with gas/Collage of Channel 24
Russian Gazprom has limited the flow of gas to Europe through Nord Stream by 40%. And although some technical problems are being talked about in Russia, experts say that by doing so, the Kremlin is blackmailing the EU in order to escape sanctions.
The director of the energy programs of the Razumkov Center Vladimir Omelchenko. According to him, Russia resorts to blackmail.
“And if earlier this blackmail extended only to the sales market and those restrictions that were outside the contract, then now Russia has crossed the border and has begun to limit even its contractual obligations,” the expert emphasized.
< p dir="ltr">Omelchenko says that Russia is desperately scared and is trying to escape the sanctions in any way.
He assured that there are penalties for violating the contract, but Russia goes anyway to similar steps.
Apparently, despite all the feigned optimism of the Kremlin, as if the sanctions do not harm them, they understand that these restrictions will gradually lead to the collapse of the Russian economy. – the expert explained.
Omelchenko said that this is the first time in its existence that Russia has resorted to the fact that it directly violates contractual obligations in relation to its European consumers.
“And not just for Poland or the Czech Republic, which take a tough pro-Ukrainian position, but also for, in particular, Germany. And this is being done in the Kremlin despite the fact that some companies have agreed to pay for gas in rubles. This suggests that Russia is in despair. “, he believes.
Will this force Europe to launch Nord Stream 2? According to the expert, a similar goal for Russia not a priority.
First of all, they want to use blackmail to force the EU to abandon sanctions against Russia, as well as the supply of weapons to Ukraine. These are the two main goals for Russia. And Nord Stream 2 is not yet critical for the Kremlin,” he replied.
According to Omelchenko, this will have the opposite effect and European countries will not succumb to blackmail, but rather speed its “liberation” from Russian gas.
Omelchenko says the Kremlin is trying to escape sanctions:
Help! Nord Stream has been transporting gas from Russia to Germany since 2011. It passes through the Baltic Sea. The throughput capacity of the gas pipeline is 55 billion cubic meters per year, and the total length reaches 1,224 kilometers. At the same time, after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the construction and certification of Nord Stream 2 was stopped. The corresponding decision was made by Germany.
By the way, at the end of May, Sergey Makogon, General Director of GTS Operator of Ukraine LLC, said that Ukraine requires either a complete stop, or at least a sharp reduction in gas transportation through Nord Stream.
