Zelensky warned that Russia was preparing a decisive blow in its energy offensive against Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Saturday that Russia was preparing a “decisive blow” in an energy offensive that would include cutting off its gas exports through the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline.

“These days Russia is trying to further increase the energy pressure on Europe. Gas supply through Nord Stream 1 is completely stopped”Zelensky pointed out in his daily message.

“Russia wants to destroy the normal life of all Europeans in all countries of our continent” with the aim of weakening and threatening European countries.He argued.

Instead of tanks and missiles, Russia is using energy as a weapon, he insisted, and is preparing a “decisive blow” in the energy sector this winter.

For Zelensky, the only way to combat this strategy is to better coordinate their response and help each other more with greater coordination. In addition, he argued, it was necessary to increase pressure on Russia to reduce its revenues from oil and gas.

In addition, Zelensky condemned the “unacceptable” incident in which several children were injured during an arms exhibition in Chernihiv and promised that negligence would be punished.

Russia today imposed an indefinite shutdown of gas supplies to Europe via Nord Stream due to the oil spill. And redoubled the Old Continent’s pulse over the winter, when the West promoted measures to curb the prices of Russian oil and gas.

All recommendations for each method this Saturday are at zero, and yesterday afternoon – shortly before the announcement that the pipeline would be shut down completely beyond three days of maintenance – data indicated that traffic was about to resume. From the pipeline manager, Nord Stream AG.

The gas pipeline has been operating at only 20% of its capacity since the end of July, or the same, carrying 33 million cubic meters per day to Europe, but it can still contribute to replenishing the old continent’s gas reserves.

Now gas reaches Europe only through Ukraine, but that is also a limited route due to Russian military action in that country (42 million cubic meters per day), And to Turkey.

Gazprom, which controls infrastructure linking Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea, did not mind the EU branding the argument to justify cutting off Nord Stream as “false”. German company Siemens Energy, the manufacturer of the turbine that allegedly caused the leak at the Portovaya compressor station, which is still operating, did not say it was a reason to stop supply.

According to Gazprom, Russia’s Federal Service for Technical Supervision (Rostejnadzor) warned that the detected problem does not guarantee safe operation of the turbine.

He indicated that Siemens representatives had checked for the fault and that it was “the only possibility” that the company’s specialist workshop could completely eliminate the leak, as happened recently with another motor repaired in Canada, but that has yet to come. From returning to Russia from Germany.

The German company immediately responded that the leak “does not create a technical reason to stop the operation” of Nord Stream, as it can be sealed “in situ”.

The German Federal Network Agency agreed, stressing that “the alleged defects do not technically constitute grounds for suspending operations.”

Gazprom promised today that Siemens is “working on repairs in accordance with the current contract, identifying faults, signing actions to detect oil leaks and ready to repair them”, but “there is no room for repair”.

Beyond the technical contradictions, Russia’s move to Europe is not a surprise, but a “false pretext” and “another confirmation of its credibility as a supplier,” European Commission (EC) spokesman Eric Mammer said.

No wonder

“Unfortunately, Gazprom’s move is not a surprise. The use of gas as a weapon will not change the EU’s resolve to accelerate our path towards energy independence,” promised Charles Michel, president of the European Council.

The German Economy Ministry said, “We have already seen Russia’s unreliability in recent weeks, and we continue unwavering in our measures to strengthen Russian energy independence.”

The European Union’s gas stores have already exceeded the 80% filling level, which guarantees a certain level of supply in autumn and winter, especially if Russia completely stops its supply, which happened.

European Commissioner for the Economy Paolo Gentiloni assured that the EU is “prepared” for the interruption of Russian gas, but he expects Russia to honor its agreements.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has reiterated in recent months that Russia wants to fulfill its obligations but cannot because of sanctions because the turbines either lack spare parts or cannot be returned without guarantees that they will not be damaged. Western restrictions.

Yesterday he said the reliability of the gas pipeline was at risk.

Another retaliation from Russia?

Moscow’s move came hours after the G7 reiterated its intention to gather the support needed to impose a ceiling on Russian crude oil prices. The president of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed that Russian Gas do the same.

Spanish government leader Pedro Sánchez today backed the G-7’s initiative, while urging the EC and Brussels to carry out “once and for all without justification” the reforms the government has been demanding for some time. A year “to protect the middle and working class and manufacturing fabric.”

Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president and deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, warned on Friday that there would be “no Russian gas” in Europe if the price cap came into effect, while the Kremlin said Russia would not cooperate. With countries accepting limits on Russian oil prices.

With information from EFE and Europa Press

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