The G7 countries have decided to introduce a ceiling on the price of Russian oil , to cut Moscow's revenues and limit the impact of the war on energy prices. And while Von der Leyen yesterday said that it is time to put a cap on the price of Russian gas as well, Moscow reacted by saying that it will not sell oil to countries that apply the "price cap".
In the evening, the further move of the Russians. Nord Stream, the main gas pipeline for the transport of Russian gas to Western Europe is not restarting today, as was expected after the three days of maintenance announced: after "the breakdowns and damage" identified, Gazprom said, " the transport of gas has been completely stopped ”.
“A fallacious pretext, unreliable Gazprom and cynical Russia”, thunders the spokesman of the EU Commission Eric Mamer . "It is not a surprise, but the use of gas as a weapon will not change our determination, we will accelerate our path towards energy independence," says EU Council President Charles Michel .
Siemens itself, the German giant that builds the turbines that allow the pipeline to work, denies Gazprom: “An oil leak is not a sufficient technical reason to justify the closure of the pipeline. Leaks of this type normally have no effect on the operation of a turbine and can be sealed in place ”.
The energy war has therefore officially broken out, and the specter of a total stop of Russian gas is back. On the other hand, the hawk Medvedev immediately responded in his own way to Von der Leyen: " If the EU imposes a price cap on Russian gas, Russian gas will no longer exist in Europe ".
The meeting of EU ministers to take measures against expensive bills is scheduled for 9 September, and it is President Sergio Mattarella himself who solicits immediate responses in a message sent to the Ambrosetti Forum: "The European Union is the only continental actor that can act to calm energy prices, supporting production activities, ensuring services to citizens and, at the same time, acting on the field of renewable energy, confirming concrete solidarity with Ukraine. A European response to the dizzying rise in prices is necessary and urgent, and it must rise to the problems ”.
(Unioneonline / L)
