According to Moscow, the issue of Russia's energy exports has been discussed in consultations with the US, saying that they must be mentally ill to turn down cheap natural gas for Europe.
Russia and the US are discussing the ongoing ceasefire and potential reopening of energy exports through the node stream pipeline in peace negotiations, the Kremlin says.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday it would be advantageous to “restore normal energy supplies” to Europe, revealing that the Nodal Stream pipeline is currently “discussed” with the US. This subject was unwelcome in Europe, relying on cheap Russian energy decades after the end of the Cold War, resulting in an energy shock that would damage the 2022 invasion.
European countries have been slow to admit that they laughed infamously laughing Donald Trump's warning of vulnerability to Russia in 2017, but they may not want to go back to how things are going, as they have experienced the pain of adapting to the new reality of very high energy prices.
With an obvious bid of provocation, Lavrov teased that Europe could be forced to take Russia's energy again. He continued. “If Americans influence Europe and force them not to reject Russian gas, that would be interesting. That would look surreal. The cost of fuel is several times higher for Europe and its businesses than for the US businesses.”
See specifically the Node Stream Pipeline – three of them were blown up by sabotages early in the war, and one theoretically operational but still dormant – Lavrov observed European leaders like Ursula von der Reyen. Not wanting the return of cheap Russian energy is, “these people are either [mentally] Unhealthy or suicide,” he claimed.
At the very least, Europe's re-importing Russian gas and oil means that European countries will lift sanctions against Russian businesses and individuals. As the stated conditions in Europe are essentially Ukraine's victory, it appears unlikely, according to the European Union's own account. The European Commission spokesman, led by von der Leyen, said today:
This founded Europe for something like a conflict with the Trump White House. This is set in a course that gives Russia the opportunity to once again engage with the Western economy from China. Nevertheless, Europe, separated from Russian energy, guarantees a stable, high-sales market for exports of American natural gas, for Trump's profits.
However, the simple economics of European industrial bases, crushed by astronomical energy prices, may simply force things out of their own for practicalism. Patrick Pouyanne, CEO of leading oil company TotalEnergies, said of the Ruissian Gas discussion: [Nord Stream pipelines came] It goes back to the stream, not four out of four. There is no way for LNG to compete with Russian gas coming from anywhere. ”
He continued: “I think it would be interesting to see if we resist cheap Russian gas… I don't think Central Europe will resist completely.” Report Reuters.
Russia has been talking about big peace matches in recent weeks and appears to be broadly compliant with President Trump's initiative. But of course there are questions about how sincere they are about their desire for peace. President Trump himself said Wednesday: “They may be limping. I've done it for so many years. I don't want to sign a contract. I don't want to stay in the game. But I might not want to do it, absolutely, I think I'd want to finish it.
The European Union itself is also pessimistic, with Commission spokesman Anitta Hipper adding:
Russia has also slammed Europe for its malice in turn. Today, the Director of the Foreign Intelligence Bureau in Russia has led to the lengthy criticism that European Union states of using “Natiera technology” to “threate European Philistine to Russian “threats.” These moves were like “Goebbels' Ministry of Public Education and Promoting,” he said, and he intended to introduce existential “rushphobia” through “brainwashing.”
The US announced separate agreements on a covered ceasefire between both Russia and Ukraine on Monday afternoon. Russia has already adhered to a ceasefire on energy infrastructure, claiming it has been doing so for more than a week under President Putin's command. Ukraine has dismissed the claim, saying its own energy infrastructure is being repeatedly attacked.
