Russia, West trade gas, sanctions threats over Ukraine

Go ahead, cut off gas to E.U. in order to wake them up from the yoke you place upon them for too long. Afterward, Russia will get what Putin wishes, the down fall of his dictatorship and Russia's own destruction.

@Bgood41

Go ahead, cut off gas to E.U. in order to wake them up from the yoke you place upon them for too long. Afterward, Russia will get what Putin wishes, the down fall of his dictatorship and Russia's own destruction

Good point. You could also try: (1) Not to pay to the local Japanese Gas company for a couple of months, (2) After getting your gas cut off, "wake up from the yoke" the Gas Company placed you upon, and (3) Start moaning in the media about the dictatorship of Japan and its "imminent own destruction". Good luck!

Russia will make an energy pact with both China and Iran. Don't need EU.

This is outright extortion. Don't like Ukraine, so you raise the rate 81% unilaterally. Then tell the Europeans (who happen to be NATO members) that if they don't pay the bill for Ukraine, you will cut them off too. What's the diplomatic language for f-you?

It is unlikely that Russia can sell all the gas that it used to sell to Europe to other countries and gas is about all it has to sell. Even if it can, other countries can make life unpleasant for Russia in many ways. Giving into this threat should be laughed off as a non-starter.

I'm sure Russia will be fine. I mean, all they have to do is go to India and China and explain that they have a glut of new gas to sell since the Ukraine won't bend to their political will. I'm sure both countries will jump at the chance to rely more heavily on the Soviets.

This is outright extortion. Don't like Ukraine, so you raise the rate 81% unilaterally.

JT doesn't say it, but all the reasons for these 81% seem to be solely contractual, and the hike is hardly surprising. It is a result of (1) nullifying the discount for paying for the gas on time, (2) introducing export taxes for gas as Ukraine unilaterally got out of the Custom Union with Russia, and (3) no "thank you for allowing the Russian fleet to be based in Crimea" discount (nullifying the 2010 Kharkiv Pact).

Right now, Russia is still providing gas to Ukraine - basically, for free - and it seems to be incorrect to say that stopping doing so is an "extortion".

The EU would be in danger because, anyway, Ukraine might siphon (as already happened in the past) the transit gas trying to get (AKA stealing) something that is not intended for them, and not paid by them.

The EU reliance on Gazprom is testament to the folly not following a diverse energy strategy.

Germany alone imports 39% of natural gas from Gazprom, with Estonia, Latvia, Finland and Lithuania importing 100%, EU-28 average is 24%, with the UK around 6%. Realistically from the data below the EU would need 2/3 years to divest itself of the reliance of energy imports from Russia. If push came to a serious shove, EU -28 could in theory reduce to around 11% with a year, but that would be painful.

Germany hasn't any political will to take a stand.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier seriously wants to negotiate, what is just not negotiable, Ukraine must feel utterly betrayed, their country is in ruins, still no real offer of financial assistance. All Steinmeier is prepared to offer is 'action plans'. When pressed he mumbles IMF assistance.

The EU governments must except all the economic pain and support Ukraine financially, not a penny to Vladimir Putin or Gazprom, call his bluff, but be prepared for the gas to be switched off or suspended.

It is going to be very painful for a time, but this part of a process that will teach the EU the lesson it needs. Dig in phased sanctions mining, gas, chemicals, currency, the lot, all is detailed in links below. President Vladimir Putin will have to explain to the Russian people why they are returning to the 1980 with all that will entails.

Searching for Deterrence: Ukraine Crisis Exposes Gaps Between Berlin and NATO.

< http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/ukraine-crisis-exposes-gaps-between-berlin-and-nato-a-962978.html>

Russia-EU - basic statistical indicators up to 2011

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Russia-EU_-_basic_statistical_indicators#Further_Eurostat_information

Scroll down to Further Eurostat information for current stats (2014)

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/international_trade/data/main_tables

Good point. You could also try: (1) Not to pay to the local Japanese Gas company for a couple of months, (2) After getting your gas cut off, "wake up from the yoke" the Gas Company placed you upon, and (3) Start moaning in the media about the dictatorship of Japan and its "imminent own destruction". Good luck!

That was funny.

Obama doesn't give a wookies ass about freedom and democracy. This is resource war of words that could turn into a bloody resource war. Ukraine couldn't pay for the gas at even discounted rates and was caught stealing it, leading to the 2006 and 2009 cutoffs.

Lots of thumbs down for the truth and thumbs up for the pipeline lies of the western media. Putin's no saint, but he is only reacting to NATO's continued encirclement of his country. At least he's fighting back. Unlike Obama, who continues to sell out the middle/working classes to the highest paying banker.

Checkmate Obama. You lost. That is unless you want to flip the board over and and start swinging.

BTW, who's paying from Crimea? The gas, oil, electricity that go to Crimea, come thru Ukraine first. Is Crimea paying Ukraine to help pay Russia?

Anyways, it's time for Europe to act on depending less on Russia. They already realize, just need to act. It may be a bit more expensive, but oil from Canada and natural gas from US (who has trillions gallons of natural gas already in reserve, enough for 92 years) will be more reliable and not subject to these whimsical fluctuations.

Ukraine also accused Russian troops of laying anti-personnel landmines at entry points along the edge of the Crimean peninsula and seizing a Ukrainian stockpile of landmines used for training.

Instead of whining, why doncha lay down your own mines on your side of the Russian borders.

Fizzbit, exactly!