Day 192 ~ Russia Shuts Off Gazprom Supply to Europe
This appears to be in response to the G7's announcement of a price cap on Russian energy supplies
As expected, Russia is using energy as a ‘weapon’ of intimidation to force the EU to lift sanctions against them, and to usher some countries to support appeasement. That is also known as stop funding Ukraine and support a peace deal where Ukraine cedes land to Russia.
The announcement of the G7 energy cap was not going to go down well with Russia, and they are delaying it until 5 December 2022, when countries should have had time to build up their supplies.
Day 192 (3 September)
The G7 announced plans for a price cap on Russian energy supplies, that include crude oil, and two other caps for refined products such as petrol. The premise is to reduce the Russian revenue stream which is funding the war, and also to stave off inflation. Russia has stated they will not export to countries that take part in the cap. China and India are outside of the G7 and this will not affect them, and they are already major importers of oil.
The Russians have responded by claiming that the Gazprom, Nord Stream 1 pipeline that had been shut for maintenance (and that was due to reopen today) since 31 August 2022, will remain shut indefinitely due to an alleged oil leak that has suddenly appeared, and distributed an image for the media. Other claims are that there is a turbine malfunction. Experts from Siemens (who build the turbines) have stated that such repairs can be done quickly and easily, contradicting the Russian claims that the pipeline must be shut for an unspecified period of time.
Such leaks do not normally affect the operation of a turbine and can be sealed on site. It is a routine procedure within the scope of maintenance work.
The cap is set to be in place on 5 December as the relevant bodies put the paperwork in place. Many countries have been seeking ways to reduce their reliance on Russian energy supplies, except Hungary who is investing in Russian energy resources. Service providers may only do business with Russia when dealing with products such as petroleum if they items are sold at the cap price or below. Details of the capped prices have not been set yet, but like the energy caps in the UK, there is a maximum price that can be charged. That means Russia might be forced to sell at lower prices and they would have no control over this.
Many anticipated that Russia would hold energy supplies as a negotiating tool, and to blackmail countries into appeasement, and are effectively using it as a weapon and a retaliation measure against the sanctions imposed against them. While countries have been stockpiling energy supplies where they can, the world is being warned to save energy now should the situation get worse. Russia has denied that they are using gas as an economic ‘weapon’ in retaliation for sanctions imposed against them, and claim that sanctions imposed have delayed maintenance work.
There has been a prisoner swap in Donetsk of 14 Ukrainian soldiers, but no further details have been released.
Equinor, a Norwegian oil and and gas company will fully exit Russia. Shell and BP have stated they plan to leave Russia too but have not laid out the plans, as such a withdrawal will take take and measures. Exxon Mobile Corp are looking to exit Russia too, but Russia is preventing them from doing so, and the company are considering suing the Russian federal government.
In Scotland, Ukrainians fleeing the country have been living on cruise ships docked in Scotland. The MS Ambition and MS Victoria are docked in Edinburgh and are housing families on a temporary basis. The families have claimed that life is good and they are free to leave the ships and security to board is tight, and food is served and there is plenty of space for entertainment and films.
Two IAEA nuclear inspectors are expected to remain at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant permanently. No further details have been given, and what security measures will be in place for them, or how often they will be reporting to the UN
.
As expected, military equipment was moved from Zaporizhzhia to Atomenergomash (a Russian power plant) and other areas prior to the IAEA inspection. What will happen after the team leave, and what authority will the remaining inspectors have? They are there for safety issues only, so if they do see weapons, what power to they have to do anything?
A Ukrainian minister has stated that the Russian Federation of Foreign Affairs has announced that Moldova is the next country that they wish to ‘liberate’ and return to the USSR fold. While it had been anticipated countries such as Moldova and Georgia were next on the Russian list, for Russia to declare it indicates that their claims of liberating Ukraine from Nazis was false as we all knew, and those who sit on the fence and think appeasement and a deal with the Russians will work need to wake up and smell the espresso!
Mikhail Gorbachev is laid to rest today, as Russians queue to pay their respects to him in the Hall of Columns. While he has been denied a state funeral, he does have a military guard of honour. Viktor Orban of Hungary appears to be the only world leader to attend the funeral as everyone else in banned as they have been sanctioned. Even if they had been able to attend, there would have been obvious security risks. Again, Orban’s appearance and his status (not sanctioned) sends an uncomfortable message to NATO and the EU as to how close is he to Russia, and how can they have an apparent ‘traitor’ in waiting as part of their alliances?
The EU has agreed another €5 billion of aid for Ukraine, except for Hungary. Like many, I’m getting impatient at the inaction of the EU and NATO for allowing Hungary to support Russia under their protection. To then build Russian power plants in Hungary as well goes against the purpose of sanctions and price caps. Hungary should have sanctions imposed against them unless they fall into line, or let them join Russia instead as they clearly want to,
To date, there have been 1,255 collaborators/Russian proxies who had been caught and charged in Ukraine. This is why a peace deal cannot work when there are Ukrainians betraying their own people. The question is why don’t they just leave and go and live in Russia instead?
Russia is alleged to have offered free plots of land in Crimea to military veterans who hold awards, and to those who are participating in the ‘special military operation’. This comes as many Russians fled Crimea when explosions began a few weeks ago. Russia is keen to repopulate Crimea and to retain the territory, and can only do so with experienced military personnel living there to fight the Ukrainians who are reclaiming the land.
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office have stated that to date there are over 31,500 war crimes that they are investigating, with 14,654 crimes against national security being reported.
Recent murals have depicted Ukrainians and Russians hugging as an indication that peace is possible. Ukrainians have considered this offensive, because there can be no peace until Russia leaves Ukraine. This is not a conflict between two nations, but Russia invading Ukraine with the aim of seizing the country and to own and control it. Russia wants Ukraine and that is the aim of the invasion.