The German Energy Minister accused Moscow on Thursday of now using energy “as a weapon” after the particularly observed reduction in gas flows to Europe as the head of Ukrainian diplomacy, on a visit to Germany, urged the continent to cut off “energetic oxygen” from Russia.
The situation is getting worse, as energy is now used as a weapon in many wayssaid environmentalist Robert Habeck, also vice-chancellor of Germany.
In retaliation for sanctions imposed on it for its military offensive against Ukraine, Russia on Wednesday imposed sanctions on more than 30 Western energy companies, most of them belonging to Gazprom Germania, the German subsidiary of the Russian gas giant .
The German state placed this company under its control because of its strategic importance.
Gazprom also announced that it would stop using a main pipeline for moving gas to Europe via Poland, in response to Western sanctions imposed on Russia.
The adoption of Russia’s counter-sanctions means a ban on the use of gas pipeline belonging to EuRoPol GAZ (which operates the Polish part of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline, editor’s note) to deliver Russian gas to PolandGazprom said in a statement to the Telegram.
Russian gas transit via pipelines crossing Ukraine has also been reduced since Wednesday, when the transit station on the Russia-Ukrainian border was closed.
Flows are expected to drop by nearly a third on Thursday since the previous day, when it has decreased by 20% in 24 hours. As a result, Russia’s gas flow through Ukraine to Europe’s largest economy has fallen by about 40% in two days, according to operator data.
Traveling to Germany, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kouleba, therefore requested that Europe put an end to certain reliance on Russian gas.
It is necessary to cut off this vigorous oxygen for Russia, and this is particularly important for Europehe said at a press conference with Robert Habeck.
Russia presented […] that he was not a reliable partner, and that Europe could not afford under these conditions to continue dealing with Moscow, Mr Kouleba argued.
Ukraine said within two days that it could no longer guarantee deliveries through Sokhranivka, in the Luhansk region, due to the presence of Russian armed forces, and asked Gazprom to increase volumes to another site, Sudja.
Moscow in return proves that transit is entirely feasible via Sokhranivka, while redirecting flow to Soudja is impossible.
Germany, whose economy is highly dependent on Russia’s gas, said on Wednesday it could compensate for the shortfall by buying energy from Norway and the Netherlands.
The country, trying to reduce this expectation, is now in the race to fill its reserves before next winter.
Stocks must be full before summer, otherwise we will be in a situation where it is easy to blackmailwarned Mr. Habeck.
Source: Radio-Canada
