Isn't the issue here that they're declining to sell extra? And energy companies normally contract for about half their customers need and buy the rest on the spot or near spot market?
Why would they sell extra when Germany is selling Russian gas to Poland and Ukraine and turning a profit? I have the same source as this comment from this discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29730855
Well I'm not saying they have to sell any at all. But if they don't they're responsible for higher prices and shortages etc.
Also, the rules are pretty clear. You can't sell to Germany you can only sell to the whole EU or not. If you decide not to then why not say so and admit you're causing shortages and price spikes? Isn't that the whole point of this sort of diplomacy?
> You can't sell to Germany you can only sell to the whole EU or not.
That’s not how it works. Each country has its own contracts. Italian Eni has gas contracts with Gazprom, Hungarian MVM CEEnergy has separate contracts, Poland has individual contracts, Germany has their own. Gazprom delivers to 25 European countries.
Which strategy? The Russian refusal to sell or the European reliance? A big part of European reliance dates back to Obama refusing to sell LNG from fracking.
Again, countries have a right to (not) sell their gas as they see fit. I'm just saying this is all pretty muddy. It's more complex than good guy vs bad guy.
The European reliance of course. Expecting a KGB agent turned warlord to sell key resource for a good price forever without any strings attached is just crazy.
If there's no good [local] source of gas, using gas is not a good idea.
> The European reliance of course. Expecting a KGB agent turned warlord to sell key resource for a good price forever without any strings attached is just crazy.
The moment when Europe got screwed was Russia and China signing the $400B contract in 2014. Until then Russia needed Europe and Europe needed Russia.
Europe alienating Russia and China at the same time is Europe in trouble.
That's great, but it worked fine for decades including under actual communists. And the EU has few other options. And their allies refuse to help. And it's those same allies that have upset Putin.
So maybe not entirely their fault even if it is their problem (I'm a Brit for full disclosure)