[ad_1]
Starting today, Russia shuts off natural gas taps for Poland and Bulgaria, a move that was condemned by Kiev as “Moscow’s pure blackmail on Europe over energy, which it says aims to break Ukraine’s allies while Russian forces on the ground they have not yet been able to conquer any important city of the neighboring country.
The Polish and Bulgarian governments said Russian energy giant Gazprom had informed them it was suspending supplies, the first since Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last month that “unfriendly” foreign buyers would have to pay Gazprom in rubles instead. other currencies. Europe imports large quantities of Russian natural gas to heat homes, generate electricity and for the fuel industry.
Imports have continued despite the war in Ukraine. About 60% of imports are paid in euros, while the rest in dollars. Putin’s request was apparently intended to help strengthen the Russian currency amid the war in Ukraine. European leaders made it clear that they would not comply with his request, arguing that payments in rubles would violate the terms of contracts signed with Gazprom, as well as their own sanctions against Russia. Bulgaria said it was working with state-owned natural gas companies to find alternative sources to replace supplies it receives from Russia.
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przdacz told the BBC that Warsaw could do without Russian gas. “We have made several decisions over the years in order to prepare for such a situation,” he said. The Polish government confirmed this week that it would send tanks to the Ukrainian army and recently announced a list of sanctions targeting 50 Russian oligarchs and companies, including Gazprom.
He was immediately surprised by the statement of the German Minister of Economy, Robert Habeck, who said that his country is very close to a complete ban on Russian oil imports. In the coming days and weeks, we will continue to expand this independence and move away from fossil fuels rapidly. “But, as I said, what a few weeks ago seemed a very big problem for Germany, has shrunk significantly, so Germany’s independence from Russian oil is now very close,” said the Green politician after a meeting with the Polish Minister of climate, Anna Moscow in Warsaw.
top channel
[ad_2]
Source link
