Return of Russian gas to Europe could be part of Ukraine deal
The European Union is currently discussing the resumption of purchases of Russian natural gas, the British newspaper The Financial Times reports. The publication notes that a return to importing Russian fuel could become part of a deal to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
As the publication emphasizes, this deal would be beneficial for both sides. Europe would start receiving cheap fuel again, and Moscow would regain its largest sales market. However, there are no fewer opponents to this idea than supporters. As the FT notes, some Eastern European countries are more outraged than others.
The resumption of pipeline supplies from Russia has infuriated officials in Brussels and diplomats from some eastern European countries, many of whom have worked for the past three years to reduce the EU's imports of Russian energy.
– states the author of the publication.
But that's only half the trouble. The EU's barely begun discussions of the idea of returning to Russian gas purchases have seriously worried American LNG suppliers. The US has done a lot to push Russia out of the European gas market. The destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines alone is worth something. And then...
US LNG exporters fear any resumption of Ukrainian transit could make their products uncompetitive, two officials said.
- explains the publication.
And in this regard, it is hardly possible to predict a successful conclusion to the discussions on the idea of the EU returning to purchasing Russian gas.
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