HomeWest's sanctions against Russia pose a significant threat to European countries

West’s sanctions against Russia pose a significant threat to European countries

Published on

On Tuesday, defense ministers from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Baltic nations, and Nordic countries joined forces to condemn Russia’s recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk areas as independent republics as an “unjustified act.”

Following a conference in Leicestershire, the statement was released as part of a UK-led joint Expeditionary Force. Vladimir Putin signed a decree declaring the rebel-held territories in eastern Ukraine to be republics, and then deployed Russian soldiers to “maintain peace.”

Much of the western world reacted angrily to the decision, with many considering it a “grave breach” of international law.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz responded by announcing that his government will halt the Nord Stream 2 pipeline’s certification procedure.

Many believe the pipeline, which is a newer version of an existing supply, has caused uncertainty in Europe’s decision-making process against Russia, because it connects Russia directly to Germany and, by extension, the rest of Europe.

In sum, 40 percent of the continent’s gas comes from Russia, with over ten percent passing through Ukraine.

Amid fears that Russia would cut Europe’s fuel supply, Putin assured on Tuesday that the country will continue to sell gas, saying: “Russia, for its part, intends to continue uninterrupted supplies of this raw material, including LNG, to world markets.”

However, as European countries begin to impose sanctions on Russia, many fear that this pledge will be broken shortly.

Professor Julian Lindley-French, an internationally recognized strategic analyst and defense expert who has worked with NATO, has warned of a scenario in which Russia targets European gas and countries are compelled to control supplies.

“Russia is ruthlessly exploiting this situation because at the moment our gas storage is so limited that the simple fact is that we’d have to prioritise and ration gas in the event of being denied Russia gas ‒ or at least Germany and other European countries would,” he told Express.

“If you’re going to keep the cookers and heating on you’d have to starve industry — that’s the reality.

“And Russia will exploit this, it’s part of its new hybrid war strategy.”

Prof Lindley-French continued by calling Germany’s recent decision to decommission its final nuclear power plants “nonsensical”.

He claimed that the country’s obsession with “at all costs” carbon reduction goals had made it “fundamentally reliant” on Russia for much of its energy.

Because the pipeline is not yet operational, the EU has confirmed that Germany’s decision to block Nord Stream 2 will have no impact on gas supply to Europe.

According to a European Commission official, “Nord Stream 2 is not yet functioning, [and] is not supplying energy to Europe.

“It’s not a different source of energy, it’s a different pipeline for an existing supplier.

“There’s no change in the current situation.”

The pipeline would have increased gas supplies to Germany, supplementing the first Nord Stream pipeline, which began operation in late 2012.

While gas supply will not be affected, German Vice-Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck predicted that the decision would result in significant price increases.

After Putin sent Russian soldiers into eastern Ukraine, oil prices rose to a seven-year high on Tuesday, while stock markets plummeted.

Brent crude surged 2.4 percent to $97.70 per barrel, its highest level since 2014, with many anticipating that the $100 threshold will be reached soon.

Gas prices in Europe have risen by as much as 13 percent, while the UK equivalent has risen by more than 8 percent.

Image Credit: Getty

You were reading: West’s sanctions against Russia pose a significant threat to European countries

Latest articles

Here’s How and When Mount Everest-sized ‘Devil Comet’ Can Be Seen With Naked Eye

Mount Everest sized Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as "devil comet" which is making its...

Something Fascinating Happened When a Giant Quantum Vortex was Created in Superfluid Helium

Scientists created a giant swirling vortex within superfluid helium that is chilled to the...

The Science of Middle-aged Brain and the Best Thing You Can Do to Keep it Healthy, Revealed

Middle age: It is an important period in brain aging, characterized by unique biological...

Science Shock: Salmon’s Food Choices Better at Reducing Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke

Salmon: Rich in Health Benefits, Yet May Offer Less Nutritional Value - This is...

More like this

Here’s How and When Mount Everest-sized ‘Devil Comet’ Can Be Seen With Naked Eye

Mount Everest sized Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as "devil comet" which is making its...

Something Fascinating Happened When a Giant Quantum Vortex was Created in Superfluid Helium

Scientists created a giant swirling vortex within superfluid helium that is chilled to the...

The Science of Middle-aged Brain and the Best Thing You Can Do to Keep it Healthy, Revealed

Middle age: It is an important period in brain aging, characterized by unique biological...