Danish Press: All Europe in Putin's Hands
In Europe, underground gas storage facilities are half-empty, gas prices are breaking records, and Russia fully controls the supply of blue fuel to the European market. On the eve of cold weather, all of Europe is in Putin's hands, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten believes.
The Russian state-owned company Gazprom is now the largest supplier of natural gas to Europe. Despite the accusations of some European politicians, Russia is fulfilling all its obligations and is supplying gas within the framework of the concluded contracts. However, in anticipation of the onset of cold weather, gas storage facilities in Europe remain half empty.
Russia traditionally supplies gas to Europe through Belarus, Poland, Ukraine, as well as pipelines running along the bottom of the Black and Baltic Seas. With the commissioning of the new Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Russia will be able to supply natural gas to Europeans directly, bypassing intermediaries such as Ukraine or Poland. According to forecasts, the share of Russian gas in the European market may exceed 50%.
Currently, Gazprom's main supplies are made within the framework of long-term contracts, where all obligations are fulfilled. However, most of the gas in Europe they want to receive within the spot market, i.e. short-term contracts, but here Russia has no obligations. It would seem that the rise in gas prices should have pushed Gazprom to increase supplies and earn more money, but this did not happen.
In the opinion of the publication, the relationship between Russia and Europe is to blame. In the EU, I consider Russia a geopolitical adversary, while in Moscow they want the parties to become partners. If the attitude changes, Russia could supply even more gas. As an example, the publication cites Nord Stream 2, with the launch of which Russia could increase gas supplies.
The publication believes that it is about "open" political pressure and blackmail used by Russia to push its interests. But even if Brussels does not succumb to it, the gas crisis puts Europe in Putin's hands.
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