“Russia is losing markets, it will suffer financial losses”: kyiv turns off the Russian gas tap and restarts the energy war

When it is not on the military field, the war between powers is waged in the energy domain. Ukraine's announcement that it will no longer transit gas from Russia to Europe from 1^is January, after the expiration of the five-year contract concluded at the end of 2019, was presented by kyiv as a “historical event”.

“Russia is losing markets, it will suffer financial losses”trumpets the Ukrainian Minister of Energy, German Galushchenko. For Russia, this loss is estimated at 6.2 billion euros and several hundred million for Ukraine, whose manufacturers would have to pay four times more for the transport of their gas, according to the Center for Energy Geopolitics. and raw materials.

During his wishes to the nation on December 31, Volodymyr Zelensky explained that his country should, this year, fight “on the battlefield” but also to “the negotiating table”. In terms of energy, he undoubtedly favors the strong approach.

Bratislava threatens to stop electricity deliveries

This ruling is not without causing concern in the countries of Eastern Europe which still obtained their supplies from Russia, such as Austria, Moldova, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia and Hungary. . The Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, made a last-ditch visit to Moscow on December 22 to try to find a solution.

Failing to achieve this, Bratislava is now threatening to stop its electricity deliveries to Ukraine at a time when its energy infrastructure is being bombed by Russia. A prospect which provoked the ire of President Volodymyr Zelensky who sees the hand of Moscow in it: “Putin ordered Fico to open a new front against Ukraine”he storms.

Poland has come to kyiv's support and is offering to provide it with any electricity it may lack. This hybrid war also affects Moldova. The country, which recently re-elected pro-European President Maia Sandu as leader, is also expected to be deprived of gas by the Russian giant Gazprom.

In the east, the die-hard strategy called into question

The energy war taking place on the eastern flank of the continent could contribute to accentuating the divide with Eastern European societies. They no longer only show signs of impatience with the economic and social consequences of the war in Ukraine, but send clear messages likely to alert Brussels.

Whether or not they are members of the EU, several countries, from Slovakia to Romania, put nationalist and pro-Russian leaders at their head last year – or placed them in good positions. All campaigned on the restoration of purchasing power after increases in energy prices and the cessation of Ukrainian grain imports which harmed local farmers.

The United States and the European Union are waging a hybrid war against Russia through Ukraine for control of global markets and supply systems. This die-hard strategy is beginning to be questioned by populations who are taking refuge in a far-right vote.