EU debates restarting Russian gas purchases as part of Ukraine peace deal, FT reports
EU officials are discussing the option of resuming purchases of Russian pipeline gas as part of a potential settlement of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Financial Times reported on Jan. 30, citing undisclosed sources.
The proposal’s advocates, including Hungarian and German officials, argue that the move could give both Russia and Europe incentives to maintain a peace deal while stabilizing the continent’s energy market, the outlet wrote.
Earlier this week, Hungary announced it had received “requested guarantees” from the EU on securing energy transit to European countries after threatening to veto sanctions against Moscow. Shortly after, Reuters reported that the European Commission will continue leading talks on gas supplies with Ukraine, Slovakia, and Hungary.
Note that this (and other) articles do NOT comment on whether Russia would even be willing to re-establish the flow of cheap energy to Europe. Russia is already experiencing record financial success and it may or may not wish to restart relations with countries that advocate for their destruction. Time will tell.
If I was Putin I’d tell Europe to go fuck itself. Unless they were willing to pay $500 billion in reparations for all the sanctions and war costs.
Make it $1 trillion.
https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/eu-officials-debate-restarting-russian-gas-purchases-part-ukraine-peace-deal