Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin cannot understand Western energy conservation efforts. The warlord said on Wednesday, according to the Interfax news agency, that he had recently seen a card advising people to wash only certain parts of their bodies in order to conserve hot water and thus harm Putin. “Well, what’s that supposed to mean? You’ve gone crazy. Save water, save electricity…what the heck is that.”
“They have made mistakes themselves, don’t know what to do and are looking for someone to blame,” the Russian ruler explained, referring to Western politicians. Russia has nothing to do with the energy problems.
Instead, Canada stopped one from operating the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline out of sheer self-interest to increase its own gas production and tap into the European market, the warlord claimed.
Is the gas really flowing again?
The Russian gas monopoly Gazprom justified the throttling of gas supplies through the pipeline with the missing turbine. Last week it was completely shut down for annual maintenance. Despite Russian assurances that deliveries will resume on Thursday, skepticism remains in the West.
According to preliminary data from grid operator Gascade, gas deliveries are scheduled for Thursday from 6 a.m. Gascade operates the two receiving points of Nord Stream 1 in Lubmin in western Pomerania. These reservations – the so-called nominations – are a condition for the transport of significant quantities. However, the registrations can still change until shortly before the actual delivery.
‘Gazprom has always fulfilled its obligations’
Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin had already declared deliveries after the maintenance on Wednesday evening. “Gazprom fulfills its obligations, has always fulfilled them and is ready to fulfill all its obligations,” Russia’s Interfax news agency quoted Putin as saying.
The Kremlin chief has once again brought into play the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which is largely paralleled and completed but not in operation. He has said in the past that operating Nord Stream 2 could lower gas prices. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany has suspended the approval process for the operation of the line.
Germany: “Clumsy blackmail attempt”
It is conceivable that Moscow wants to force the commissioning of Nord Stream 2 by throttling Nord Stream 1. Politicians from the ranks of the Berlin traffic light coalition spoke, among other things, of a “clumsy attempt at blackmail”.
EU wants to oblige to save gas
According to the will of the European Commission, EU countries should be able to be forced to save gas in the event of a gas crisis. In concrete terms, the Brussels government proposed on Wednesday that binding reduction targets should be possible if not enough savings are made.
The EU countries must voluntarily do everything they can to reduce their consumption by 15 percent in the coming months compared to the average of the past five years. The EU countries have yet to approve the project.
Von der Leyen: ‘Russia uses energy as a weapon’
According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a complete cessation of gas supplies from Russia to the European Union is likely. “We must prepare for a complete disruption of Russia’s gas supply.” Twelve EU countries would no longer be supplied with gas from Russia at all or only to a limited extent. “Russia is blackmailing us, Russia is using energy as a weapon.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
