EUโs outgoing energy chief warns against masking Russian gas imports
Kadri Simson says talks with Azerbaijan would allow Gazprom to continue exporting to central Europe
Russian gas
Beer-drinking Putin, Brexit bashing and Trump tension: Standout tales in Merkelโs new book
We read it so you don’t have to.
Russia stops gas supplies to Austria via Ukraine
In a notice published on the central European gas hub platform, Austria’s OMV said Russia’s Gazprom told it supply would stop on Saturday (16 November).
Germany tells its ports to reject Russian gas cargoes
Economy ministry instructs import terminal to refuse planned shipment of LNG
EU chief suggested to Trump buying US gas instead of Russiaโs
With Trump headed back to the White House after a campaign loaded with threats of steep tariffs on foreign goods, the European Union wants to avoid a damaging trade war with its biggest ally.
The end of Pax Americana
When the U.S. inaugurates Donald J. Trump as its 47th president, the country and world will be very different because of it.
Serbiaโs President thanks Putin for natural gas supplies
Serbia, officially a candidate to join the EU, has historically strong ties with Russia and continues to rely on Russian gas.
Bulgaria key to stopping Russian gas to Europe, expert says
In todayโs edition of the Capitals, find out more about Czechia sending a new ambassador to Moscow amid frozen relations, Sweden deciding to boost its military defence by almost a third by 2030, and so much more.ย
Bulgaria key to stopping Russian gas to Europe, expert says
“Bulgaria is the key to stopping Russian Gas.”
France calls for tighter monitoring of Russian gas exports to EU
LNG flows have increased despite attempts to sanction Moscow and weaken its economy
Hungary and Gazprom in talks for extra Russian gas for Budapest in 2025
Hungarian foreign minister Pรฉter Szijjรกrtรณ also said that Budapest will veto European Union sanctions on Russia if the exemption for his country to purchase Russian oil is cancelled.
Moldovaโs wineries shift away from Russian gas
Vineyard founded by Joseph Stalin joins countryโs westward pivot and green transition
Most of Europe is fine without Russian gas
But the end of the supply contract through Ukraine at the end of this year could prove costly for Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.
Kyiv stands firm on ending Russian gas transit deal after meeting Slovakiaโs Fico
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reiterated Ukraine’s decision not to extend its transit agreement with Russia, which expires at the end of this year, and urged European countries to reduce their dependence on Russian gas, much to Slovakia’s Prim…
Kyiv stands firm on ending Russian gas transit deal after meeting Fico
In todayโs edition of the Capitals, find out more about Bulgarian farmers set to receive โฌ100 million in state subsidies after protest threat., a Swedish far-right leader embroiled in gang-related controversy, and so much more.ย
Ukraine recognises Slovakiaโs โacute dependenceโ on Russian gas flows
PM Denys Shmyhal tells counterpart Robert Fico that Kyiv will meet obligations without renewing Gazprom transit deal
EU imports ever more gas from Russia than the US
The EU has imported significant volumes of Russian gas this year, valued at around โฌ10 billion.
If war ends Iโll restore relations with Russia, Slovakiaโs Fico says
Pro-Moscow prime minister wants to continue buying Russian gas and oil and to maintain existing transit routes through Ukraine.
Germany will work with Trump even after he spread โfake newsโ about us, minister says
Trump said earlier this month that German’s renewables drive had failed.
Belgium calls for EU ban on Russian gas as imports rise
Existing regime not strong enough for companies to exit long-term contracts, says energy minister
Austria election brings into focus Russian gas addiction
The government that takes power in Austria after next Sunday’s (29 September) general election will face growing pressure to diversify its energy supply away from dependence on Russian gas, just as the economy is stuck in reverse gear.
Gazprom-friendly Hungary blames EU for failing to end Russian gas dependence
Hungary’s energy security chief on Wednesday (18 September) slammed the European Union for not providing enough support to help smaller, landlocked countries move away from Russian natural gas.
Germanyโs rude economic awakeningย
After a spate of bad news involving giants like Volkswagen and Intel, the mood in Germany has turned gloomy.
Austriaโs biggest utility company to ditch Russian gas from 2025
The state-owned heat and gas provider for Vienna, Wien Energie, will avoid purchasing Russian gas and ensure none is sold to its customers from 2025, according to a statement on Friday (13 September).
Ukraine war briefing: Major Russian counter-offensive reported in Kursk
Shoot down Russian missiles and drones, Ukraine urges its neighbours; hopes rise of US permission to fire long-range missiles into Russia. What we know on day 932See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverageRussian forces have begun a significant counter-off…
EU still hesitant to sanction Russian gas as report highlights scale of ongoing imports
The annual State of the EU Energy Union report shows Europe still relies on Russia for nearly a fifth of its gas imports, while the EU executive is concerned at the slow pace of the transition away from fossil fuels.
UK imposes sanctions on 10 ships in crackdown on Russiaโs shadow oil fleet
Tankers believed to be at heart of illicit operation transporting gas and oil to fund Moscowโs war effortThe UK has taken new steps to clamp down on Russiaโs shadow fleet exporting oil and funding Moscowโs war machine, with the Foreign Office announcin…
Ukraine backs Russian oil loophole for Hungary
The deal will allow Viktor Orbรกn’s government to bypass Kyiv’s sanctions on Russian oil giant Lukoil.
Europeโs new normal: High energy bills, fading industry and one chance to fix it
German manufacturers are being strangled. The EU is feeling the pinch. Mario Draghi on Monday warned the EU may be staring at โslow agony.โ
Secretive Draghi is echoing Soviet Union restructuring
Like Gorbachev’s Perestroika, the report from the former ECB chief could herald a change of historic proportions. It’s far less innocuous than it sounds.
Czechia floats plan to replace Russian gas supplies to eastern EU countries
Czechia’s trade minister and the likely next EU energy commissioner has urged the incumbent Kadri SImson and Berlin, Budapest, Bratislave and Vienna to intensify efforts to wean the bloc off Russian gas
FBI dossier reveals Putinโs secret psy-ops in Europe
Russian psychological warriors identified Germany as a particularly vulnerable target for Moscow’s influence, U.S. law enforcement says.
Putin to discuss gas supply contract with Serbian deputy PM
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he intended to discuss a gas supply contract with Serbia that expires in March 2025 with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin.
EU imports of Russian gas outstrip US volumes
Gazprom has once again delivered more gas to Europe than the US in the second quarter of 2024, who stepped in as a pinch hitter when the Kremlin stopped supplies in 2022.
Ukraine to EU: You can still store gas with us despite Russian attacks
The country’s vast reserves helped the continent avoid a market crisis last winter.
Hungary FM teases more Gazprom contracts after huge blowup with EU ministers
Foreign Minister Szijjรกrtรณ sat down for three hours with the CEO of the Russian energy giant.
Closing the backdoor: The new TurkStream is here. Can the West stop it?
Martin Vladimirov is director of the Energy and Climate Program at the Center for the Study of Democracy. Announcing its plans for what could be called TurkStream 2 on Aug. 21, Turkey finally dropped all pretenses. According to the countryโs energy minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, the state-owned gas monopoly BOTAล would now be able export around [โฆ]
Ukraineโs seizure of a Russian gas hub casts uncertainty over Europeโs energy supply
After two weeks of fighting, Ukraine claims to have taken control of 1,250 square kilometres of Kursk Oblast in Russia, but also of a gas terminal that is highly strategic for Europe.ย
Ukraine war briefing: Russia hiring trench diggers after Kursk invasion
Ukraine sets up military commandantโs office in Kursk; Russians grind on towards strategic Pokrovsk in Donbas. What we know on day 905See all our Ukraine war coverageRussia is urgently advertising for trench diggers to build defences in the Kursk regio…
Zelenskiy: Ukraineโs troops now in full control of Russian town of Sudzha
Military commandantโs office is being established in city, says president as discussions over prisoner exchanges restart Ukraineโs president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has claimed Kyivโs troops have full control over the Russian town of Sudzha, which had a p…
Ukraine behind Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, report claims
A report by the US outlet Wall Street Journal claims Kyiv concocted the plan to blow up the pipeline bringing Russian gas to Germany in May 2022, citing four anonymous Ukrainian military sources.
Ukraine says advance into Russia โgoing wellโ, creates strategic buffer
Ukraine’s forces advanced further into Russia’s Kursk region on Wednesday (14 August) as Kyiv said its gains would provide a strategic buffer zone to protect its border areas from Russian attacks.
Germany zeroes in on Ukrainian suspect in Nord Stream pipeline explosions
Nord Stream gas pipelines running from Russia to Germany blew up in September 2022.
Germany issued arrest warrant for Ukrainian over Nord Stream bombing, reports say
The suspect was able to evade the arrest warrant.
European gas price hike boosts Russian fuel sales, outstriping total EU aid to Ukraine
The rise in gas prices in Europe that has been attributed to Ukraine’s recent invasion of Kursk is expected to add to Russian revenues from selling fossil fuels, further widening the gap between such revenues and the total amount of EU support to Kyiv.
Russian gas keeps flowing to EU via Ukraine despite fighting
Intense fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces near a pipeline Russia uses to supply European countries with gas has not disrupted supplies, network operators and gas companies said on Tuesday (13 August).
Russia reinforces Kursk region, evacuates civilians following shock Ukrainian incursion
Russia moved extra tanks, artillery and rocket systems to its southern Kursk region and imposed โanti-terrorismโ measures in border areas as it battled a shock incursion by Ukraine’s military.
โMassiveโ drone attack hits Russiaโs Lipetsk region, as fighting continues in Kursk
While not mentioning Lipetsk or Kursk, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy said: “Russia brought the war to our land, and it should feel what it has done.”
Russia declares state of emergency in Kursk as Ukraine incursion continues
Kyiv hasn’t commented officially on the military action, but Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko said: “Everything is according to plan.”
In the hydrogen battlefield, Europe tries to stay ahead of China
Terrified Beijing may come to dominate yet another clean tech market, the EU aims to impose regulations โ and is looking to Japan for help.
Cargo ship spotted at Russian gas terminal under US sanctions
Arctic LNG 2 project in Russiaโs high north has so far been unable to export liquefied natural gas
Youโve had two years: EU eyerolls at Hungaryโs request for help with Russian oil
After failing to reduce their reliance on Moscow for energy, Hungary and Slovakia now want help from Brussels.
Europeโs manufacturing slump shows no signs of ending
Manufacturing in Europeโs industrial heartland weakened further in July, confirming the worst fears of EU leaders concerned by the direction that the blocโs economy is taking. S&P Global said today its eurozone manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI), a rough real-time proxy for activity in the sector, fell this month, as the sector dived deeper into [โฆ]
Europe should stop hand-wringing about Trump โ and be more constructive
A little more reflection and a little less contempt might go a long way toward creating the kind of enduring transatlantic consensus we need.
โDrill, baby, drillโ: Americaโs fossil fuel boom risks bust in Europe
Both Trump and Biden are pushing lucrative U.S. fossil fuel deals โย a risky bet given the EU’s plans to wean itself off the energy source.
Ukraine war briefing: Villages locked down in Putinโs Belgorod โsanitary zoneโ
Czech ammunition factory for Ukraine; Baltic states to cut electrical grid ties with Russia and Belarus. What we know on day 875Russia has been forced to lock down 14 border villages in its Belgorod region due to the Ukrainian fightback against Russian…
Bulgaria pays โฌ142 million to companies that jumped in after Gazprom cut-off
The Bulgarian government decided on Thursday to compensate natural gas traders who helped fill the state-owned Chiren gas storage facility withย 278 million leva (โฌ142 million) after the sudden cut-off of Russian gas supplies in late April 2022.
Trumpโs plan for NATO is emerging
Trump advisers envision a โradical reorientationโ in which Washington takes a back seat to Europe โ and cuts a deal with Putin over Ukraine.
The perils of relying on Russian transit for Azeri gas
A proposal to transit Azeri gas through Russia and subsequently to the EU raises significant strategic and security concerns, writes Sergiy Makogon.
EU approves first-ever sanctions on Russian gas
Itโs a notable evolution in strategy for the EU, and came after Germany and Hungary held up a deal for weeks.
Germany blocks first-ever sanctions on Russian gas
EU countries had been close to a deal targeting liquefied natural gas, but talks fell apart at the last minute.
Germanyโs Uniper wins $14 billion arbitration ruling against Gazprom
German utility Uniper has won a multi-billion euro arbitration against former long-time supplier Gazprom, it said on Wednesday (12 June), allowing it to tear up dormant gas supply contracts and potentially setting a precedent for similar cases.
Hungarian president to skip โBucharest Nineโ summit
Hungary’s President Tamas Sulyok will not attend the summit of the Bucharest Nine, a group of European countries on the eastern edge of NATO in Riga on Tuesday (11 June), Latvian president’s office said.
Gazprom badly hurt by Ukraine war, says company-commissioned report
Research ordered by Russian gas group warns it may not recover lost export revenues for more than a decade
Germany backs down in gas levy fight
The climbdown comes after the EU threatened legal action and capitals warned the fees were making it harder to quit Russian energy.
Controversial gas transit fee: Germany caves under pressure
The German government said on Thursday (30 May) it will remove a controversial surcharge on gas passing through the country which EU neighbours said added to the cost of moving away from Russian gas.
Blinken vows support for Moldova against Russia โbullyingโ
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday (29 May) promised steadfast US support to Moldova in areas from energy independence to democracy promotion on a solidarity visit to the pro-Western nation as alarm grows over Russian pressure.
Germany, Czech Republic seek EU talks on fully quitting Russian energy
Germany and the Czech Republic are pushing the European Union to hold talks on how to eliminate the remaining energy sources Europe imports from Russia, EU diplomats told Reuters on Tuesday (28 May).
EU approves law to hit gas imports with methane emissions limit
EU countries approved a law on Monday (27 May) to impose methane emissions limits on Europe’s oil and gas imports from 2030, pressuring international suppliers to cut leaks of the potent greenhouse gas.
Russia to build Central Asiaโs first nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan
Russia will build a small nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan, the first such project in post-Soviet Central Asia, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on Monday (27 May) at a meeting with visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
US assures Europe: Weโll keep sending you gas, we promise
Joe Biden’s decision to pause new LNG projects rattled Europe, which is increasingly reliant on the US product.
ICC tribunal bans Gazprom from placing gas dispute at Russian court
An International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) tribunal has prohibited Russia’s Gazprom from continuing with Russian legal proceedings against CEZ, the Czech energy company said.
How Putin hijacked Austriaโs spy service โ and is now gunning for its government
Intelligence officials suspect Wirecard COO Jan Marsalek of colluding with the far-right Freedom Party on Moscowโs behalf.ย
Bulgaria demands โฌ400 million from Gazprom for suspended gas supplies
Bulgarian state-owned gas company Bulgargas is seeking more than โฌ400 million in damages from Russian gas monopoly Gazprom Export-Import for the sudden suspension of natural gas supplies at the end of April 2022.
How Turkey became Putinโs โpit stopโ for selling camouflaged fuel to the EU
Moscow bagged โฌ3 billion through a sanctions loophole that allows Turkey to relabel Russian gas and ship it to the EU.
France announces low carbon fertilisers plant to reduce dependence on Russian imports
French president Emmanuel Macron announced the project aiming at producing decarbonised nitrogenous fertilisers at the “Choose France” summit, an annual meeting of international business leaders at the Chรขteau de Versailles, on Monday 13 May.
France announces low carbon fertilisers plant to reduce dependence on Russian imports
French president Emmanuel Macron announced the project aiming at producing decarbonised nitrogenous fertilisers at the “Choose France” summit, an annual meeting of international business leaders at the Chรขteau de Versailles, on Monday 13 May.
Good COP, bad COP: Azerbaijanโs climate charm offensive is backfiring
Hosting the prestigious U.N. talks is drawing unwanted attention to the oil-and-gas-rich nationโs foreign influence networks and political crackdowns.
EU proposes first sanctions on Russiaโs LNG sector
Until now, the EU hasn’t targeted Moscow’s lucrative gas sector. The proposed sanctions would hit about a quarter of Russia’s LNG revenues.
Uniperโs dormant Russian gas contracts may pose hurdle to listing
Reuters exclusively reported that legacy gas contracts with former main supplier Gazprom could become a key hurdle for utility Uniper [โฆ]
The post Uniperโs dormant Russian gas contracts may pose hurdle to listing appeared first on Reuters News Agency.
Ukraine war briefing: Ukrainians โhave the right to strike inside Russiaโ, says David Cameron
Franceโs Macron stands firm on potentially sending troops; sanctions on Russian gas leave Gazprom with record annual loss. What we know on day 800See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverage Continue reading…
How Europe solved its Russian gas problem
The bloc has avoided an energy crisis, but the short-term solutions could harm competitiveness and the green transition down the line
Italy can do without Russian gas, says energy minister
Rome has no reason to oppose EU sanctions targeting Russian LNG, Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin says.
Former high priest of EU politics Selmayr finds higher calling in the Vatican
“The monster of the Berlaymont” has been nominated for a new role.
France talks tough on Ukraine while gobbling up more Russian gas
France has paid Russia over โฌ600 million this year for liquefied natural gas, new data shows. That’s an EU-leading rise from last year.
The Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine must end in 2025
As the 2024 expiration of the Russian gas transit contract via Ukraine approaches, the EU faces a pivotal choice, writes Sergiy Makogon.
Bulgaria using Turkish Stream pipeline as a geopolitical weapon, reveals Borissov
Bulgaria has introduced the special gas tax on the transmission of Russian gas through Turkish Stream to punish Austria for its Schengen opposition, the leader of Bulgaria’s largest party GERB Boyko Borissov announced on Wednesday (3 April).
Hungaryโs new gas deal fuels Russia fears
Increasing exports to the EU are a lifeline for Turkey, but analysts fear it could be the Kremlin cashing in.
Azerbaijan keeps trade option open amid sanctions busting accusations
Azerbaijan has positioned itself as a significant energy trade partner for the EU following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, amid accusations that Baku would be involved in ‘laundering’ sanctioned Russian gas and oil.
Trumpโs interview with Nigel Farage: 7 things we learned
The future of NATO, negotiating with Putin, and Prince Harry feature in a half-hour talk with the former U.S. president.
Dark Cardinal Selmayr headed for the Vatican
Martin Selmayr, once called the ‘Monster of the Berlaymont’ by his colleagues, will stay far away from Brussels with a new role.
Gas is back on the agenda
Reminiscent of late 2022, natural gas has crept its way back up the political agenda ahead of a solidarity fight between Germany and its neighbouring countries โ and growing pressure to ditch all Russian gas.ย
Ministers agree to extend gas saving policy through 2024
With no end in sight to president Putinโs war on Ukraine, European energy ministers have agreed to extend for a second year voluntary measures to keep natural gas demand across the EU to at least 15% below pre-invasion levels, and discussed ways to end…
โWe donโt need Russian gasโ: Will Austria finally ditch Gazprom?
When Austria was forced to admit in mid-February that Russian gas made up 98% of its recent gas supplyย โ two years after the Kremlin attacked Ukraine โ it triggered a political pile-on. Will Austria be able to rid itself of its dependence?
Sweden โon its toesโ after Russian pledges countermeasures over NATO bid
In todayโs edition of the Capitals, find out more about Sweden being โon its toesโ after Russia pledged countermeasures over its NATO bid, Bulgaria becoming the main route for Russian gas imports to the EU and Ukraine in 2025, and so much more.
Gas consumption in France down 20% from 2021 levels
Gas consumption in France in 2023 has fallen by more than 10% in one year and by around 20% compared to 2021, according to the latest figures from France’s main transmission operator, GRTgaz, published Tuesday (February 27).
EU softens gas consumption curbs in sign energy crisis easing
The European Commission has asked EU countries to keep curbing their gas use but softened the policy to be entirely voluntary, in a sign of optimism that the worst of Europe’s energy crisis is over.
Denmark drops investigation into Nord Stream pipeline blasts
Country follows Sweden in ending inquiries, saying there is not enough grounds to pursue a criminal caseUkraine war โ live updatesDenmark has dropped its investigation into the 2022 explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines carrying Russian gas to German…
German gas tax riles neighbors in race to ditch Russian fuel
Berlin’s bid to cash in on EU countries’ energy needs must be blocked by Brussels, a Czech-led bloc is demanding.
โShouting matchโ: UKโs David Cameron preps for battle over Ukraine
A bust-up with Russia’s Sergey Lavrov is on the cards โ but Britain’s top diplomat has allies in his sights too.