The NATO Secretary General has warned that Vladimir Putin’s “energy blackmail” on Europe might spark “civil upheaval” this winter.
Jens Stoltenberg recognized that winter “will be difficult” as “families and companies feel the pressure of rising energy prices and living expenses” in the coming months.
The leader of a Western security alliance stated in an article for the Financial Times that it is worthwhile to defend Ukraine despite the cost.
He remarked, “Winter is approaching, and it will be difficult.” Hard for the Ukrainian people and armed forces, who are battling for their freedom, and for us, who are supporting them.
“Our togetherness and solidarity will be put to the test when families and businesses feel the pinch of increasing energy prices and rising costs of living as a result of Russia’s ruthless invasion.”
“The next six months will be challenging, with the possibility of power outages, interruptions, and perhaps civil unrest.” However, we must remain steadfast and oppose tyranny for Ukraine’s and our own sakes.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (pictured) has warned that ‘civil unrest’ could result from Vladimir Putin’s ‘energy blackmail’ over Europe this winter.
After shelling a residential building in Kharkiv, employees save personal possessions from the wreckage while sifting through it.
Gazprom’s Orenburg gas processing plant in the Orenburg Region of Russia, as seen from above.
Stoltenberg warned that if Putin is encouraged by his victory in Ukraine, he may engage in additional actions against Russia’s neighbors and possibly strike NATO allies.
Putin denied today that Moscow was employing energy exports as a ‘weapon’ after Russia froze natural gas delivery to Europe via a crucial pipeline.
The Nord Stream pipeline has been shut down for many days after Russia announced that it will be undergoing maintenance for an extended period of time, heightening fears of a wintertime energy pricing crisis in Europe.
Europe, which relies significantly on Russian supplies, has accused Moscow of using energy as a kind of blackmail in reaction to sanctions imposed over Russia’s military incursion in Ukraine.
Russia cut off the continent’s access to the inexpensive natural gas it had relied on for decades to power companies, generate electricity, and warm homes.
They claim Russia employs energy as a weapon. More foolishness! How do we defend ourselves? Putin stated at the Eastern Economic Forum in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok, “We provide as much as importers request.”
A residential structure in Kharkiv that gets bombarded on a regular basis is cleared of rubble by workers.
After a Russian military attack in Slovyansk, a Ukrainian firefighter fights a blaze in a wrecked residential structure.
Following the discovery of oil leaks in a turbine, the Russian gas giant Gazprom announced on Friday that the Nord Stream pipeline, which had been scheduled to resume last weekend following three days of maintenance, will stay closed for repairs.
The suspension of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline has resulted in an 89 percent decline in Russian gas exports compared to a year ago.
Russia used to provide 40 percent of Europe’s natural gas, and even more to Germany, where cheap energy was a pillar of the economy.
There is still some Russian gas going to Europe via a pipeline passing via Ukraine and Slovakia, as well as another crossing the Black Sea to Turkey and eventually EU member Bulgaria.
Before the crisis in Ukraine began, Russia began reducing gas production as early as last summer. This significantly increased gas prices.
Then, Gazprom severed ties with a number of European nations after these nations responded to the onset of war by prohibiting several transactions with Russian banks, firms, and individuals.
Following the Russian night shelling in Kramatorsk, the ruins of a psychiatric facility may be seen.
After a Russian military strike in Slovyansk, Ukrainian firefighters struggle to extinguish a fire in a residential building that was destroyed.
After airstrikes demolished a Kharkiv apartment structure, Ukrainian rescuers work at the site.
In recent weeks, natural gas prices have reached all-time highs due to the decreases in supply.
The Kremlin maintains that sanctions have impeded the upkeep of Russian gas infrastructure and, in particular, have hampered the return of a Siemens turbine that was undergoing repairs in Canada.
Putin stated at an event in Vladivostok, “Give us a turbine, and we’ll activate Nord Stream tomorrow.”
“We are prepared to accomplish this tomorrow; all that remains is to push a button. However, we were not the ones who imposed sanctions,’ Putin continued.
Putin referred to the potential of a price ceiling on Russian natural gas as “another foolishness” and “another non-market solution with no future.”
Putin warned that Moscow will cease energy exports to nations that impose price ceilings on Russian energy exports.
“We will not do anything if it is against our interests, in this case economic interests,” he stated. ‘No gas, no oil, no coal, no fuel oil, nothing.’
Wednesday, EU leader Ursula von der Leyen urged that member states agree to a price ceiling that would’reduce Russia’s earnings’ used to fund military activity in Ukraine.
Putin warns that the West will ‘stay freezing’ if energy price ceilings are imposed, and that Russia will cease all gas and oil exports.
By Rachael Bunyan for MailOnline
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned today that the West will “keep freezing” if price limitations are imposed on Russia’s oil and gas exports.
Putin stated at an annual economic summit in the far-eastern port city of Vladivostok that Russia will cease all gas and oil exports if these price limitations are implemented.
The 69-year-old Russian leader stated that European requests for a price restriction on Russian gas were “stupid” and would result in higher worldwide pricing and economic difficulties in Europe.
Last week, the affluent democracies of the Group of Seven (G7) revealed their intention to put a price ceiling on Russian oil exports by prohibiting insurance and transportation companies from assisting Russia in selling oil at rates above the cap.
Putin warned the West that Russia would walk away from its supply contracts if the West placed price limitations on Russia’s exports, adding that Moscow will have sufficient consumers in Asia.
Putin stated, “We will not offer anything if it goes against our economic interests.” ‘No gas, no oil, no coal, no fuel oil, nothing.’
As in the classic Russian fable, we would sentence the wolf’s tail to be frozen, he said.
Putin stated, “Those who seek to impose their will upon us are currently incapable of doing so.”
“They need to come to their senses”
Russia is the world’s second-biggest oil exporter, behind Saudi Arabia, which is also the world’s greatest exporter of natural gas and wheat. Russia is the source of around 40% of Europe’s natural gas and 30% of its oil.
President Putin of Russia has stated that if price ceilings are enforced, Russia will cease oil and gas exports.
If Putin succeeds in preventing all oil and gas supplies from reaching Europe, this would have disastrous effects on the average person, as energy costs would skyrocket even further than they are already.
Natural gas supplied by Russia fuels factories, creates electricity, and warms homes in Europe.
Putin, using a Russian folktale, stated that Russia will not send any additional energy to Europe outside of existing contracts, citing rising energy prices in Europe ahead of the winter.
They possess a variety of answers. Either subsidize high costs, which is undesirable since it will not affect consumer behavior, or lower demand,’ he said.
“It is appropriate from an economic standpoint. From a social perspective, it is risky, as it could result in an explosion. Putin stated that commercial responsibilities and civilized rules are preferable.
He continued, “The demand is so high on international markets that we will have no difficulty selling it.”
Putin continued, “An attempt to regulate prices through administrative means is nothing but ravings, it’s utter folly.” The only result will be a price increase.
EU energy ministers are scheduled to meet on Friday to debate how to respond to restricted gas supplies from Russia and a price jump that threatens to overwhelm businesses and consumers as demand grows during the winter months.
However, a Czech minister’s statement that the plan to control prices for Russian gas, one of the EU’s primary measures under consideration, should be removed off the agenda casts doubt on its viability.
As holders of the rotating presidency of the EU, the Czechs are guiding debates.
According to me, this is not a constructive suggestion. Industry Minister Jozef Sikela was quoted by the Czech news agency CTK as saying, “It’s more of a tool to censure Russia than a solution to the energy issue in Europe.”
Putin stated at an annual economic symposium in the far-eastern port city of Vladivostok that European requests for a price restriction on Russian gas were’stupid’ and would lead to higher world prices and economic difficulties in Europe.
The 69-year-old Russian leader (seen on the left with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan) warned the leaders that Russia would walk away from its supply contracts if the West placed price limitations on the country’s exports, adding that Moscow will have sufficient consumers in Asia.
Gazprom has totally suspended gas supplies to Germany via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, citing the discovery of an engine oil leak during maintenance work last week, thereby aggravating the energy situation in Europe.
Putin denied Western charges that Moscow used gas as a weapon to subdue opposition to its invasion of Ukraine by delaying gas supplies to Germany via the Nord Stream 1 project.
Putin asserted that Germany and Western nations were to blame for the inoperable Nord Stream 1 pipeline and that Ukraine and Poland had unilaterally opted to shut off other gas supplies into Europe.
Putin stated, “Nord Steam 1 is now essentially shut down” as he contacted Germany to return a turbine for the pipeline’s Portovaya compressor station, which would allow Russia to resume gas flow.
There is an oil leak there, creating a potentially explosive and flammable situation. The turbine is dysfunctional. Tomorrow, we will activate Nord Stream 1 if you provide us a turbine. However, they provide us with nothing,’ he stated.
Facilities to accept and distribute natural gas are depicted on the grounds of gas transport and pipeline network operator Gascade in Lubmin, northeastern Germany, near the Polish border; the industrial infrastructure includes a receiving and distribution station for the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.
Putin, though, stated that Russia was prepared to reactivate the vital Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline to Germany as soon as a critical turbine was returned from maintenance.
Gazprom began reducing supplies through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in the middle of June, and Russia has reduced gas deliveries to other European countries that have allied with Ukraine in the conflict.
In recent weeks, natural gas prices have reached all-time highs due to the decreases in supply.
The impact of the rise in gas and oil prices is causing firms to reduce production and governments to spend billions to cushion the impact on consumers.
Europe’s electrical industry association requested governments to give emergency loans to energy companies facing a liquidity crunch due to growing collateral requirements as power prices climb.
A survey conducted in Germany revealed that more than ninety percent of medium-sized businesses view rising energy and raw material costs as a major or existential concern, emphasizing the growing dangers for the Mittelstand, the backbone of the largest economy in Europe.