Ashkenaz reported on December 31, 2021 that Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a furious tirade against Germany as the Kremlin's gas supply continued being diverted to Poland. The conflict over the Yamal-Europe pipeline, which usually delivers gas from Russia to Western Europe, continues. Normally the Yamal-Europe, which is Europe's longest gas pipeline, transports Russian natural gas overland to Germany and Western Europe. However, in the past week, it has been redirecting gas from Germany to Poland to make up for a shortfall of fuel as temperatures drop to -10C and Russia cuts gas supplies.
On Sunday, German network operator Gascade claimed Russia sent the fuel back to Poland for a sixth straight day – a huge blow to the EU, where gas prices have been skyrocketing. The ownership of Gascade — part Russian, part German — suggests the issues are the result of a political feud. However, Russia has this week denied accusations that the flow reversal was a political move, stating it was a purely commercial matter.
Speaking to the Russian media, Putin blamed the ongoing gas crisis on importers like Germany and France and their failure to sign long-term supply contracts. He said that the EU could end the skyrocketing gas prices by ending delays to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that runs from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea.
He said: "They are sawing the branch they are sitting on.”
Experts have accused Mr Putin of tinkering with gas supplies in order to pressure the European Union into approving the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. While the Russian state-owned gas corporation Gazprom is meeting long-term contracts with the EU, it has effectively stopped selling gas on the spot market.
Putin also checkmates EU and US as he toys with gas supplies (more)
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