Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
July 21, 2022

Why Nord Stream II Must Be Opened Immediately

Next winter Germany, and other European countries, will have an energy crisis. This crisis, we are told, is caused by the proxy war between the U.S. and Russia in Europe. They say that Russia has cut us off from its natural gas deliveries.

That is a lie.

The Ukraine and Poland have shut off some pipelines that bring in gas from Russia to western Europe. Germany has not delivered on the contracted maintenance that is required to keep the Nord Stream I pipeline at full capacity. The German government has blocked the certification of the Nord Stream II pipeline which is technically 100% ready to work at full capacity.

The energy crisis Europe will experience was created by the governments of those European countries who stop the pipeline flow of gas from Russia and who's citizens will have to bear the consequences.

It is solely on them to stop that coming catastrophe.

Here is how one man, known for his attention to details, correctly portrays the issue:

Question: Mr President, a serious energy crisis is developing in Europe, which is discussing the possibility of Gazprom cutting off gas deliveries. The company has allegedly issued an official notification to one of its German clients, citing force majeure circumstances.

Are there grounds for accusing Russia of causing this energy crisis? Will Gazprom continue to honour its obligations

Vladimir Putin: First of all, Gazprom has always honoured, and will continue to honour its commitments.

There are no grounds at all for the attempts by our partners to shift or try to shift the blame for their own mistakes on Russia and Gazprom.

What is the situation with energy deliveries? In 2020, in the first half of 2020, gas cost 100 euros per 1,000 cubic metres in Europe. The price rose to 250 euros in the first half of 2021. Today it is 1,700 euros per 1,000 cubic metres of gas.

What is happening? I have spoken about this on numerous occasions, and I do not know if we should go into detail regarding the energy policies of European countries, which underrate the importance of traditional sources of energy and have put money on non-traditional energy sources. They are big experts on non-traditional relations, and they have also decided to make a bid for non-traditional energy sources like the sun and wind.

Last winter was long, there was no wind, and that did it. Investment in the fixed assets of traditional energy producers has decreased because of previous political decisions: banks do not finance them, insurance companies do not insure them, local governments do not allocate land plots for new projects, and pipeline and other forms of transportation are not developing. This is a result of many years, probably a decade of this policy. This is the root cause of price hikes rather than any actions by Russia or Gazprom.

What is going on today? Until recently, we supplied gas to Europe without Turkiye: we supplied around 30 billion cubic metres a year to Turkiye, and 170 billion to Europe, 55 billion via Nord Stream 1, and, if memory serves me, 33 billion were supplied via Yamal-Europe, via the two strings that run through Ukraine. About 12 billion were delivered to Europe through Turkiye via TurkStream.

Ukraine suddenly announced that it was going to close one of the two routes on its territory. Allegedly because the gas pumping station is not under its control but on the territory of the Lugansk People's Republic. But it found itself under the control of the Lugansk People's Republic several months before, and they closed it just recently without any grounds. Everything was functioning normally there, no one interfered. In my opinion, they closed it simply for political reasons.

What happened next? Poland imposed sanctions on Yamal-Europe, which supplied 33 billion cubic metres of gas. They used to take 34, I think, 33–34 million cubic metres a day from us. They shut it down completely. But then we saw that they turned on the Yamal-Europe pipeline in reverse mode, and they started taking about 32 million a day from Germany. Where is the gas from Germany coming from? It is our Russian gas. Why from Germany? Because it turned out to be cheaper for the Poles. They used to get it from us at a very high price, closer to the market price, whereas Germany gets it from us 3–4 times cheaper than the market price under long-term contracts.

It is profitable for German companies to sell it to the Poles at a small premium. It is profitable for the Poles to buy it because it is cheaper than to buy it directly from us. But the volume of gas in the European market has decreased, and the total market price has gone up. Who has won? All Europeans only lost. This is the second point: Yamal-Europe.

So, first one of the routes in Ukraine was shut down, then Yamal-Europe was shut down, now Nord Stream 1, which is one of the main routes – we pump 55 billion cubic metres a year through it. There are five Siemens gas compressor stations working there, and one is on standby. One compressor had to be sent out for repairs. A repaired compressor was supposed to come from Canada, from the Siemens plant in Canada, to replace it. But it ended up under sanctions in Canada. So, one pumping station, just one piece of equipment was out of order because of scheduled maintenance work and it has not been returned from Canada.

Now we are being told that the unit will be delivered from Canada soon, but Gazprom does not have any official documents yet. We must certainly obtain them, because this is our property, it is the property of Gazprom. Gazprom should receive not only the hardware, not only the gas pumping unit, but also the accompanying documents, both legal and technical documentation. We must be able to see what Gazprom is taking – the turbine’s current condition as well as its legal status, whether it is under sanctions or not, what we can do with it, or maybe they are taking it back tomorrow. But that is not all.

The problem is that at the end of July, on July 26, I think – we can ask Gazprom – another turbine should be sent for routine maintenance, for repairs. And where will we get a replacement from? We do not know.

One more turbine is actually out of order because of some crumbling of its internal liner. Siemens has confirmed this. That leaves two operational units, which are pumping 60 million per day. So, if one more is delivered, fine, we will have two in operation. But if it is not, only one will be left, and it will pump only 30 million cubic meters per day. You can count how much time it will take to pump the rest. How is this Gazprom’s responsibility? What does Gazprom even have to do with this? They have cut off one route, then another, and sanctioned this gas pumping equipment. Gazprom is ready to pump as much gas as necessary. But they have shut everything down.

And they have fallen into the same trap with the import of oil and petroleum products. We hear all sorts of crazy ideas about capping the volume of Russian oil imports or the price of Russian oil. This is going to lead to the same situation as with gas. The result (I am surprised to hear people with university degrees saying this) will be the same – rising prices. Oil prices will spiral.

As for gas, there is another route we are ready to open, which is Nord Stream 2. It is ready to be launched, but they are not launching it. There are problems here as well, I discussed them with the Chancellor about six or maybe eight weeks ago. I raised this issue; I said that Gazprom had reserved the capacity, and that this capacity needed to be used, and it cannot be suspended in mid-air indefinitely.

The answer was that there were other issues on the agenda, more important things, so it is difficult for them to deal with this right now. But I had to warn them that then we would have to redirect half of the volume intended for Nord Stream for domestic consumption and processing. I raised this issue at the request of Gazprom, and Gazprom has actually already done it. Therefore, even if we launch Nord Stream 2 tomorrow, it will not pump 55 billion cubic meters, but exactly half that amount. And given that we are already halfway through this year, it would be just a quarter. Such is the supply situation.

But – I said this at the beginning of my answer to your question and I want to end with this – Gazprom has always fulfilled and will always fulfil all of its obligations, as long as, of course, anyone needs it. First, they themselves close everything, and then they look for someone to blame – it would be comical if it were not so sad.

Those are facts.

The German and other European governments have pledged to suicide the German economy and the wealth of their citizens solely out of spite over the Russian government's action in the Ukraine. They deny that it is THEIR action that is causing the crisis.

Here is a neutral source, an Indian diplomat, explaining the basics of the business to the dimwits who are ruling over Europe:

Russia teaches Europe ABC of gas trade

They, and their media, ignore that Russia has had, and has, sound reasons to defend the Donbas republics. They do not tell you that the Ukraine, in late February, had planned and was ready to attack the citizens of Donetzk and Luhansk with overwhelming force.

Here is additional evidence for that:

OSCE Reports Reveal Ukraine Started Shelling The Donbas Nine Days Before Russia's 'Special Military Operation'

They deny that Ukraine is controlled by extreme right wing elements. They deny that there are full fledged Nazis formations in control of Ukraine even as their own media have for years warned of those.

They are lying to you.

All German natural gas storage sites can be filled to the brim via Nord Stream II if the Germany government would allow for it. It does not do so. That is the reason why you in Europe will to have pay much more for heating and electricity in the months and years to come.

Russia will win the war. It is only a question of time. Meanwhile the sanctions will impoverish Europe:

[C]an the European public wait? Before the sanctions have a "desired effect," it is the ordinary people that will suffer. Russia's economy is still standing, but the crisis has cast a long shadow over European economies. Leaders of EU countries face low growth and record inflation. The euro is at parity with the dollar. According to a Bloomberg report, the European Commission is set to warn that a halt of Russian gas supplies to the EU could potentially reduce its GDP by as much as 1.5 percent.

The EU is well in a position to find out that it is not that Russia cannot live without Europe, but Europe cannot live without Russia. EU's sanctions against Russia serve as a boomerang. After all, it is the European public that is paying the price for the decision of policymakers. European politicians talk in high spirits about what kinds of sanctions would hurt Russia most and that aligning with the US makes them more secure. But when the public has no gas to even take a shower or cannot buy oil and flour at the supermarket, what is the meaning of the "security" the European politicians tout?

It is on you to expose the politicians behind these sanctions and to force them to change course. Your well being depends on that.

Posted by b on July 21, 2022 at 7:35 UTC | Permalink

Comments
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And if and when that happens, not only will it signal the death knell of NATO but also of the United States as a reliable partner (for anyone).

Posted by: Maracatu | Jul 21 2022 8:00 utc | 1

That piece was posted from The Saker in the previous thread. My favourite: "Vladimir Putin: There are no secrets here; in fact, almost everything is known."

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jul 21 2022 8:03 utc | 2

Funny or sad this situation is a teachable moment that cannot be green-washed away. It is bound to be a very hard lesson.

Posted by: too scents | Jul 21 2022 8:08 utc | 3

Europe Hit Hard by Own Sanctions

Man up VDL … choices made.
.
Brussels is on a NATO/Pentagon war narrative of solidarity and unity.

Pushing through legislation, imposing fear and pushing business and consumers into debt and poverty. VDL and team haven’t got a clue, a blind man in the darkness of a black hole. No debate, no analysis of shirt and long-term policy. Not talking peace to anyone … all sides pretend only a military solution is possible.

Habeck Energie Krise

”Germany's good years are behind it, as a result of a confrontation with Russia. An important basis of our prosperity were the gas contracts with Russia."

I’m sure the German corporations will raise hell before long with the Scholz team in Berlin. Imposing harsh sanctions is a No Go.

Despite Weeks Filling Media Headlines: Russia is weaponizing gas delivery to Europe …

Today gas is flowing into Nord Stream 1 at 30% of capacity.

Putin keeping some options open … fulfilling gas contract with Europe.

Posted by: Oui | Jul 21 2022 8:11 utc | 4

The Anglo-saxon time in the world is coming to an end. The former colonialists times is coming to an end. The future of the US is bleak. It is the time of the Global South!

UK will have a truss for a prime minister, who wouldn't know, where Yorkshire is...The US demented One will be kept on life support...The EU is deteriorating...

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 8:16 utc | 5

Excellent post.

The UK government and its security services, military and craven media, realise that their policies are creating huge internal pressures that they need to control. The easiest and most effective way of doing so is to have external ‘enemies’ to blame. This deflects the blame away from those who’ve caused the problems.

Instead, we get immigration, striking workers, rising Islam, and of course, the oldest ‘threat’ Russia and the commies. The pompous oaf Johnson wasn’t really toppled because of his boorish, mendacious, priapic excesses albeit that that is how our supine media dressed it up. Rather there is the growing realisation that the class war he and his predecessors have been engaged in for the last 50 years and more, have resulted in pressures that must be contained. So his replacement by ideologues of similar persuasion is a mere distraction. And we’ll get more of the same with the growing problems blamed on external causes.

The lack of any revolutionary consciousness in the bulk of the population means that this is a wasted opportunity to overthrow this corrupt system. But we must do what we can to expose the lies and to raise political consciousness. Organise, at local level, support strikers like the railway workers, or whoever and develop class solidarity rather than fuss about identity politics. Truss, Sunak, Scholz, Dragi, Van der Leyen, Biden, Trump, etc etc; they’re all the same. They protect their class interests at our expense. The power that arises by solidarity and rejection of capital’s lies will ultimately win the day. But we need to take steps now.

Posted by: Vragtes | Jul 21 2022 8:17 utc | 6

Resumed on July 21, gas supplies to Germany via Nord Stream are still going at a capacity of about 30%, reaching the planned 2.66 million cubic meters. may take several hours. This was announced by the gas pipeline operator Nord Stream AG.

According to the operator, nominations by consumers in Europe for pumping gas through Nord Stream amount to almost 2.66 million cubic meters. per hour, which is about 63.9 million cubic meters. m per day. The physical flow of the energy resource from 7:00 to 8:00 Moscow time amounted to about 1.9 million cubic meters.


-Ria Novosti

Energy panic in the EU is still on anyway...and will be there for till the beginning of heating season, but will not end, even by February 2023...Russian roulette...😋

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 8:18 utc | 7

It's not EU citizens who should raise hell right now, but those with far more power, namely EU big business, as Oui said. Those should tell bluntly to their centre-right liberal buddy parties that they will stop funding them and will work to destroy them if they don't fully stop the sanctions madness now. Then if governments are stupid enough, we'll see that hilarious sight of having both firms and the people, the left and the right, seeking to put their political leaders' heads on spikes.
And for the record, I'm fine with people turning into frenzied mobs and putting all EU or even Western leaders heads on spikes. They deserve it. And they've already begun in Japan, for once a trend-setter.

Posted by: Clueless Joe | Jul 21 2022 8:21 utc | 8

for whatever it is worth, HRW just came out with a report that blames both Urainians and Russians for putting civilans unnecessarily at risk.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/07/21/russian-ukrainian-bases-endangering-civilians

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jul 21 2022 8:23 utc | 9

No way NS2 will work. NS1 will partially pump gas, sometimes will stop because of servicing delays from Siemens.
You did see that UN wants to get that tiny amount of food out of Ukr, but regular and huge Russian exports must not work? Next week biden is supposed to create that new climate emergency thingy, probably no more oil. Synthetic food from bill gates and digital currency is the short time plan. Trudy was testing money stealing and it worked well on protesters. As soon as your bank account disappears and there is no cash you're screwed. if you don't have a pfizer you don't get to work either, stay home and die.

Posted by: rk | Jul 21 2022 8:24 utc | 10

LNG storage terminals cost hundreds of millions to build. I don't know how many the EU needs but it likely will cost billions. But when Quatar was talking to the EU about supplying the stuff the EU wouldn't agreed to a long term contract - don't know where I read that - because it would mess up the green agenda. 2030, net zero and all that. And of course we can expect that when the SMO ends the EU will go back to Russia looking for their fine cheap fuel. And we know the EU as Lavrov have said isn't a reliable investment partner. In the circumstances I can't see how any board of directors that takes its fiduciary duty to shareholders seriously could build any LNG terminals in the EU. So I think all the EU talk of them is just spoof.

Posted by: BettyCorsett | Jul 21 2022 8:26 utc | 11

I think most people are totally frustrated. Somehow we managed to lose truth in our societies. We are switching back from knowing to believing. I guess even a simple statement e.g. that a stone will fall to the ground if you throw it away, would be questioned immediately if it was a parameter for a political decision. Including a social media shitstorm and multiple explanations from multiple experts for stones if needed.
Lying and opportunism have become key qualifications for our leaders. And nobody has the time and the resources to search for the truth in every issue. So we are forced to believe. We can only choose whom.
And our leaders in our famous democracies are usually recruiting from their own class since decades. It's quite like in the old aristocratic ages. A kind of intellectual incest in the government class.
Nowadays most jobs in government organisations are not result of qualifications, but of relationships.

And there we come to the next point of the catastrophe: our actual leaders are incapable of understanding the complexity and multiple dependencies of every issue in our world.

They know somehow, that they are incompetent, and they regret it, but the are totally convinced they are the best qualified anyway. It's real hubris.

So the combination of the loss of any consensual truth and incompetent leaders is something anyone is feeling deep inside. There will be no chance to change the (especially western) society without a big crisis. Too many different interests of too many parties with too much power make it impossible.
Somehow people as leaders know, that a big crisis will (and needs to) come. It's the old "Better an end with horror than horror without end" thing.
Normal people are celebrating their powerlessness in a stoic way now while they wait an partially prepare for the things to come, while others deny every thought on it because of their fear, but feel it as well.

That's my view on the apathetic behaviour of the masses AND most of the political elites.

I apologize for any mistakes or misused terms....

Posted by: T | Jul 21 2022 8:29 utc | 12

The total inconsequential nature of the EU to the rest of the world.
And yet the idiots yap on!
VDL is going to be the ultimate fall gal for the total incompetence that is the EU leadership.
Not sure if it's going to make any difference to anything l.

Posted by: Jpc | Jul 21 2022 8:30 utc | 13

Before the imposition of sanctions US NGL was not in great demand as it was not competitive with RF pipeline gas.
After the imposition of sanctions US NGL is in great demand irrespective of price.


Cui Bono?

Posted by: Sushi | Jul 21 2022 8:30 utc | 14

"I am surprised to hear people with university degrees saying this"
Why are you surprised? A Uni degree is a piece of paper dished out to anyone who attends higher end education classes but you don't need to be super smart to pass when all you need is a reasonable regurgitation of what is delivered in the classroom or whatever. The smartest people I have worked with in mining management were not the holders of degrees but those that worked their way up through the ranks and actually understood what they were working with. Holders of degrees were generally the workers delivering the inconsequential clap trap at the weekly management meetings.

Posted by: Bluedog57 | Jul 21 2022 8:39 utc | 15

and Draghi going going gone

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jul 21 2022 8:40 utc | 16

Cui Bono?

Posted by: Sushi | Jul 21 2022 8:30 utc | 14

Exactly!
And no mutterings about the cost of LPG installations and the time to install the infrastructure etc.

Posted by: Jpc | Jul 21 2022 9:01 utc | 17

Antonovsky Bridge stood as it was - and so it is!

Russian air defense successfully repulsed Kyiv's attempts to strike at the bridge. All 12 HIMARS missiles were shot down...

HIMARS are Just BS!
Just like the Americans winning in Afghanistan...😋

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 9:04 utc | 18

The US is spending a lot of money in the Ukraine conflict. This money will have to be paid back, with interest. And just as ancient Rome levied taxes in the provinces, the US wants Europe to pony up the money, apparently by buying US natural gas at inflated prices. I don't think Europe can afford that kind of money: already Germany is running a trade deficit. And if Europe costs the US more than the US gets from Europe, the US - troops, multinationals and all - will leave Europe.

Posted by: Passerby | Jul 21 2022 9:14 utc | 19

US will sell more LNG at higher profit but all the LNG on the planet can't replace pipe gas for EU. US has to sell LNG to their Asian puppets as well, Japan won't get Russian LNG anymore. Other sources of pipe gas for EU are at full capacity or unavailable for political reasons. EU will be deindustrialized anyway, no way back. Even if they keep buying some gas from Russia, the price will not go back to 100-200 like 2 years ago, they won't be competitive or profitable, no more high salaries for doing nothing. What remains will be owned by US, some companies will simply die, some may move to China where everything is cheap like before or even cheaper.
So the destruction of EU, in the end, will be beneficial for everyone except for euroidiots.
Russia is selling more LNG now because they don't ask for rubles for LNG (for some strange reason). Bulgaria (disconnected themselves from Russian pipe gas months ago) and France buy it like crazy now. Feels like EU fell in a double trap, one from US, one from Russia

Posted by: rk | Jul 21 2022 9:22 utc | 20

2022, the year of the big Brrrrr.
****

Clueless Joe | Jul 21 2022 8:21 utc | 8

It's not EU citizens who should raise hell right now, but those with far more power, namely EU big business.

EU businesses are considered much of the same target as Ukrainian soil and land. Spoils of war. The US NEEDS to find another source of revenue, and as the only way they know is by theft of other people's assets, Europe is on the "to be Victims" list. You can't ask a victim for help, the best they can do is to join the same side as the rest of us.

You can even go further and look at how many of "Europe's" leaders were educated in the US or Israel, or how many are compromised. I don't know the total, but I am sure someone does - CIA, Mossad or MI& do.

Posted by: Stonebird | Jul 21 2022 9:28 utc | 21

Posted by: Passerby | Jul 21 2022 9:14 utc | 19

Trump said in a recent interview with John Solomon that the US will not defend Germany if Germans don't buy American cars. This is ultimately all about creating markets for the US and destroying European competition, it seems. Of course Trump meant defending Germany from Russia but clearly the biggest threat to any country's security is the US.

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jul 21 2022 9:29 utc | 22

There are only 500 LNG tankers worldwide and they are all fully booked. So even if they can build more terminals in Europe there is no guarantee that they will get enough deliveries as they want. Plus can the exporters pump more gas and if they can do they have the capacity at their export terminals to load more tankers?
So in just a few more months till winter they can sort all those logistics bottlenecks out?
Also read an article that ships (bulk tankers, bulk cargo and container) are generally older than normal as owners of shipping fleets are reluctant to invest in new ships due to uncertainty about the green mandates. LNG tanker owners might be in the same reluctant boat. Why build a LNG tanker to meet the current jump in demand when that demand might not be there by the time construction is finished? Wars end, worldwide recession, rising financing costs, green mandates all make it risky to build ships that last 20 years

Posted by: Neal | Jul 21 2022 9:30 utc | 23

The German government has blocked the certification of the NordStream II pipeline which is technically 100% ready to work at full capacity.
Yes. If they do not unblock immediately, the German people should throw them out, they work for other masters than the electorate. The German government is remote-controlled from Washington just like Zelensky is.

Posted by: Norwegian | Jul 21 2022 9:30 utc | 24

Posted by: T | Jul 21 2022 8:29 utc | 12

Thanks for your valuable analysis.

Posted by: Andrew Celestina | Jul 21 2022 9:30 utc | 25

Posted by: Bluedog57 | Jul 21 2022 8:39 utc | 15

A agree with meaning of your comment 100%!
Whay?
I worked 1/3 of may working career with people from all over the world.
With degrees wich they presented in their CV's.
And learned them know..
What I found? They fighted all their career to impover paper they presented. NOT KNOWLEDGE!
Other, not so many "educated" always proved themselves by understanding, hard working and simply, being human...

Posted by: preseren3 | Jul 21 2022 9:31 utc | 26

There are few pipelines going to the west from Russia, other than the Nord Stream, and all of them have turbines...and they pump, if and when pumping is needed. There's also pipelines to China from Siberia, and they also pump. So, the turbines doesn't really have to be from the unfriendlies...😏

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 9:31 utc | 27

Germany is experiencing eine Grüne Machtergreifung and Scholz looks to be as much an observer as Lindner as Baerbock and Habeck run riot over energy security.

Long time since Petra Kelly - we now see the Joschka Fischer War Tendency aligned with US Demonocracy. Russia as the biggest purveyor of Fossil Fuels on earth is what stands between the Greens/US and subjugation of Europe in a post-industrial landscape.

15% Gas Imports go to the Chemical Industry; 4% to BASF. Without a Chemical Industry Germany is finished.

Russian gas costs Germany around $280/1000 cu metres and it is that cheap energy which keeps German exports competitive against China and USA. Without the hidden Russian "subsidy" German wage levels and price levels would need to collapse to stay competitive.

Without cheap Russian energy there would be no German trade surplus and no value to the EURO. The whole EuroZone would be like Greece

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Jul 21 2022 9:34 utc | 28

Gonzalo Lira's Round Table #3 later today in a few hours https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOEgLFJ6eu8 Guests include New Atlas.

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jul 21 2022 9:36 utc | 29

Posted by: rk | Jul 21 2022 9:22 utc | 20

How do you propose to refrigerate gas ? Has Linde enough capacity to set up facilities ?

How do you propose to ship LNG ? Do you have inflatable tankers or will South Korea create them by magic ?

Now that Pakistan cannot afford LNG and has blackouts can the people affected now move to Europe ? Or should they intensify their work on atomic power ?

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Jul 21 2022 9:36 utc | 30

B. These are not facts but justification manufacturing. This BS game was pretty clear weeks ago.
There will be all kind of troubles both political and technical with NS1 until NS2 is opened and then all troubles will be quietly resolved.

The facts are Russia keeps gas gun at German head and Germans are genuinely scared with that and are looking for gas sources in panic, ignoring political costs that they will have to pay later.
Basically Russia keeps Germany hostage and US does not care if hostage gets hurt in any domain.

The preparations for this game were already visible year ago when Gazprom kept German gas storage at low levels.

Posted by: pppp | Jul 21 2022 9:37 utc | 31

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jul 21 2022 9:36 utc | 29
-------------

Wasted time...😋
No one in Kharkov had heard of Gonzalo Lira there...at least in Ukrainian YT, Telegram channels

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 9:38 utc | 32

Posted by: pppp | Jul 21 2022 9:37 utc | 31
-------------
Not only the Germans, the Poles too!
They even kicked Peter Naimski out from the government yesterday...

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 9:40 utc | 33

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 9:31 utc | 27

You are of course devoid of factual data or specifics. The pipelines across Ukraine are a) End of Life and in need of replacement. b) subject to interruption by the Kiev regime

The pipelines across Poland are unreliable because Poland has sequestrated Gazprom ownership

The Nordstream II is NEW and pressurised.

Nordstream 1 has compressors installed in 2009 which need rotational rebuilding just like aero engines. Sending one to Canada was stupid of Siemens when it could have sent it to Dyce, Aberdeen where Siemens has a partnership with RWG to service Industrial-RB211 aerodrome compressors.

Compressors are taken off-line in turn and sent for re-build. With the experience of the lamentable Joe Kaeser of Siemens Energy who is clearly not being helpful, it is unlikely Gazprom is prepared to see yet further blackmail and hostage-taking of Siemens-installed equipment

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Jul 21 2022 9:41 utc | 34

The EU institutions are just the ministry of economic and social affairs for NATO, and they have been talking about energy security (don't buy Russian energy) for years. The European Commission has taken on more powers, and will take on even more in the coming emergency, all the time supporting NATO goals, whilst national governments will gladly deprive themselves of even more responsibility. Talk of democracy will increase, just as this modern day Hanseatic League relies on totalitarian methods to keep its population in line (it can't promise them anything optimistic, so it will use fear to hang on to the little that remains). It is going to be a rough ride with or without Nord Stream.

Posted by: Jeremn | Jul 21 2022 9:42 utc | 35

The fault lines against Brussels' diktat are emerging.

Machine translated from Spain's El País:

Teresa Ribera: “we Cannot assume a sacrifice on which we have not been asked opinion”

Spain rejects the proposal of Brussels cut a 15% consumption of gas: “unlike other countries, the spaniards have not lived above our means from the point of view of energy”

Spain goes on the attack against the latest proposal of Brussels, which is that all european countries will cut 15% of its gas consumption until the next spring, whatever their degree of exposure to Russia. “We cannot assume a sacrifice disproportionate about that you don't even have asked us to previous opinion,” said the third vice-chairman and minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera , in a press conference virtually single-mindedness held hours after the European Commission desvelase a plan that is not considered “neither the most effective nor the most efficient, nor the most fair.” No matter what happens, he said, “the Spanish families will not suffer cuts of gas or electricity in their homes.”

...

https://elpais.com/economia/2022-07-20/espana-rechaza-la-propuesta-de-bruselas-de-recortar-un-15-el-consumo-de-gas.html

Posted by: too scents | Jul 21 2022 9:46 utc | 36

Consumer confidence just hit an all-time low in the Netherlands.

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jul 21 2022 9:48 utc | 37

You are of course devoid of factual data or specifics.

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Jul 21 2022 9:41 utc | 34
--------------
Oh really?!
What is the pressure of Jamal-Europa? Ever seen a pressure test?

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 9:48 utc | 38

"Russia is not to blame for the fact that the Americans elected a strange grandfather with dementia as their president, and the Europeans will be "hard freezing in their homes this winter" - Medvedev"

https://t.me/intelslava/33590

LOL. A burn as devastating as this one could keep Europe warm through two winters.

Posted by: Et Tu | Jul 21 2022 9:50 utc | 39

Both the U.S. and the E.U. populations have fallen prey to a sociopathic and sadistic cult that has commandeered so-called 'educational institutions', such as the U.S.'s Harvard poly-sci and economics schools. They have been busy destroying the 'West' simply because of their sadistic cult psychosis. First they decimated the productional system in the U.S.A. by outsourcing industry, and now they are doing the same in the E.U. by blocking energy sources. The common people are their victims.

We need _simple hedge voting_ combined with unicameral legislatures, radically reformed education, and real _freedom to hear_ (not just freedom of speech). Plus some other refinements. Without these things we are doomed.

Posted by: RKJoyce - Prophet | Jul 21 2022 9:53 utc | 40

@Jonathan W | Jul 21 2022 9:36 utc | 29

Gonzalo Lira's Round Table #3 later today in a few hours https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOEgLFJ6eu8 Guests include New Atlas.
Thanks for the heads up. New Atlas (Brian Berletic, based in Bangkok) is an interesting guest.

Posted by: Norwegian | Jul 21 2022 9:57 utc | 41

THEIR SINS
(which is not Russia's fault)

1. The fact that the European fools were cynically swindled by the Americans, forcing them to take on the most painful consequences of the sanctions strike on the population of the EU countries.
2. The fact that ordinary Europeans will be fiercely cold in their homes this winter.
3. The fact that Europe and the US have the highest food inflation in recent decades.
4. The fact that companies from the EU and the US have lost their multibillion-dollar investments in the Russian economy.
5. The fact that the Americans elected their president a strange grandfather with dementia, who, forgetting about his duties, loves another country much more than his own.
6. The fact that the city lunatics, who called themselves the leadership of the EU, have completely lost touch with reality and are forcing the unfortunate Ukrainians to sacrifice their lives to join the European Union.
7. The fact that numerous political crooks are manipulating the topic of restoring the statehood of Ukraine within the former borders, counting on new military orders and cutting the cash flows allocated to the Kyiv regime.
8. That NATO continues, contrary to logic and common sense, to approach the borders of Russia, creating a real threat of world conflict and the death of a significant part of humanity.
9. The fact that after the 2014 coup, Ukraine lost its state independence and came under the direct control of the collective West, and also believed that NATO would ensure its security.
10. The fact that as a result of all that is happening, Ukraine may lose the remnants of state sovereignty and disappear from the world map.
11. The fact that Ukrainian criminals will definitely be tried for the atrocities committed against the people of Ukraine and Russia.


- Dmitry Medvedev

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 9:58 utc | 42

Remember that photo of the G7 and Boris commenting on shirts. Just 4 weeks ago

1. Boris gone
2. Draghi gone

So who next of the 7. Olaf, Biden. Macron, Trudeau. My bet is on Olaf, Then Biden by the end of the year. Macron may stay on, as might Trudeau.

Posted by: watcher | Jul 21 2022 10:05 utc | 43

Posted by: watcher | Jul 21 2022 10:05 utc | 43
------------

Liz Truss is coming...😋

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 10:12 utc | 44

So who next ... watcher | Jul 21 2022 10:05 utc | 43

---

All of them if Italian spreads blow up Target2.

https://www.ecb.europa.eu/paym/target/target2/html/index.en.html

Posted by: too scents | Jul 21 2022 10:13 utc | 45

Posted by: too scents | Jul 21 2022 10:13 utc | 45

One gets the sense that no matter how reluctant they are to leave (or appear to be), they are actually lucky to get off the stage before the shit hits the fan. In BoJo's case, it is not only the economy that is in trouble, the UK may not be so "united" any more. The often overlooked "troubles" in Northern Ireland are, in fact, a big deal, to say nothing of Nicola Sturgeon's rule in Scotland. And, one suspects, these constituent parts will be as globalist - or more - as Johnson turned out to be after Brexit.

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jul 21 2022 10:21 utc | 46

I struggle to believe that the rich and powerful owners of German industry would allow the destruction of their hard won post-WW2 prosperity. So why are the owners of Mercedes, Siemens, BASF, etc doing nothing to stop this madness? Are the German elite allowing a year of NATO-induced economic pain so that they can finally break free of American and British occupation? If German industry closes over the winter and Germans freeze in the dark, will this cause a “German Spring” which will end occupation of their country?

Posted by: Michael Thomas | Jul 21 2022 10:26 utc | 47

Liz Truss will fail in a major way.
She will be destroyed by the domestic problems her party has created since 2010 and the wave of strikes that are starting and developing will lead to an early election.

Conservatives have pulled this stunt of changing leaders three times since 2016 with an "electorate" of 180,000 Party members balloted. It is not constitutional - but Williams Hague changed the Party rules.

Constitutionally only Members of Parliament determine who is Prime Minister - if the ruling party has a majority - then it is their MPs by default.

The Members have NO say.

The Unconstitutionality of this procedure will destroy the regime

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Jul 21 2022 10:30 utc | 48

Liz Truss will fail in a major way.
She will be destroyed by the domestic problems her party has created since 2010...

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Jul 21 2022 10:30 utc | 48
---

Wish UK Liz Truss...

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 10:32 utc | 50

The operator Nord Stream AG reported that gas supplies via Nord Stream had reached the level of 40% of the maximum capacity.

Russia is teasing Germany...Let them know what the might be missing...

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 10:35 utc | 51

Posted by: Vragtes | Jul 21 2022 8:17 utc | 6 "Organise, at local level, support strikers like the railway workers, or whoever and develop class solidarity rather than fuss about identity politics. Truss, Sunak, Scholz, Dragi, Van der Leyen, Biden, Trump, etc etc; they’re all the same. They protect their class interests at our expense. The power that arises by solidarity and rejection of capital’s lies will ultimately win the day. But we need to take steps now."

<= BATs vs WHTs

I read about a psychological phenomena called backfire.. It goes something like this.. once a person (population) develops a belief..(from the news and political information) facts counter to the developed belief work in reverse (that is, fact <=Germany, not Russia is/e cause of the gas problem, strengthens, the belief held by the Russia did it believer).
So facts may not be the proper basis for organizing your supporters.. at least not until the believers in the masses are sorted into BATSs vs WHTs and the messages targeted separately to each type of thinkers.
I estimate that 60% of the population adopt from propaganda beliefs and use those beliefs to make all their decisions [after the belief develops, facts which surface that deny the truth of the belief are either ignored or used to strengthen the original often wrong belief.
Non supportive, facts in contradiction to the truth, even blunt denial by facts which surface subsequent to belief adoption are completely ignored by the belief adopting thinkers (BATs)..
the other 40% of the population are "working hypothesis thinkers WHTs" they continuously adjust their WH so facts work to change the minds of WHTs. This difference, if true, suggest two types of propaganda are needed and the audience needs to be targeted to receive the appropriate message.
i am indifferent to your call for action, but I am curious to see if there is substance to backfire psychology.
BTW, are you sure its class interest instead of investments in privately owned monopoly powers?

Usually these monopoly powers(copyrights and patents and government contracts anything has converted public ownership of "parts of government" or "parts of the public domain" into private ownership (usually corporate in form) appear as assets on corporate balance sheets.

One consulting firm reports greater than 90% of all assets reported by global exchange registered corporations are intangible assets. The raw material of intangible assets is hot thin air. Rule of law is the machine that converts hot thin air into intangible assets. Because private ownership in monopoly power is accomplished by rule of law, the state enforces private ownership of global monopoly powers against the public interest. Without the laws of copyrights or patents and without the nation state to make the air into asset laws, it would be difficult to get the state to enforce private ownership of global monopoly power. Privatization is a function of rule of law. The nation state system is needed to transform ownership of all valuables into private hands. Here the question is <=who owns the valuable German Gas Market <=Russia or the West.

Posted by: snake | Jul 21 2022 10:43 utc | 52

The Long quote Bernard posted is spot on true with the technical details. Worth reading closely.

On another note to put into perspective - 3/4 of homes in Germany were built before insulation requirements started in the 1970s building code. A buddy of mine owns a modest single family house in Southern Germany. He heats frugally. His normal annual heating bill is around 5,000€. This year his annual heating bill will be between 10,000 and 20,000€ depending on how the Natural Gas prices finally flesh out.

Those are huge numbers. My buddy tells me there are simple clerical people renting apartments who will be paying 2,400 to 4,000€ annual heating costs instead of 800€.

These are very serious numbers. Ordinary people are really going to suffer. Elderly on small pensions will eat rice and beans or freeze.

Letting NS2 operate would return heating costs to their old numbers.

Posted by: Exile | Jul 21 2022 10:56 utc | 53

Posted by: T | Jul 21 2022 8:29 utc | 12
I don't think its truth or incompetence.. the truth is
the war in Ukraine is about ownership of the oil and gas markets in Europe.. The oil and gas oligarchs and their corporations own competitive oil and gas resources and producing facilities. The Western oligarchs own the "political will" of the nation state leaders who lead the western governments. As such the western Oligarchs have instructed the western political leaders, to take from Russia the European Oil and Gas Market and to hand that entire market to the western Oligarchs.
these Oligarchs could care less how many Europeans freeze to death this winter.. There are plenty more to replace those who die. .

Posted by: snake | Jul 21 2022 11:02 utc | 54

One of biggest sugar producers in Europe, Poland has sugar problem -- empty shelves in the shops.

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 11:03 utc | 55

okay, suppose NS2 is opened, what would happen next?

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jul 21 2022 11:06 utc | 56

The biggest coal producer in Europe, Poland has coal problem too.

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 11:07 utc | 57

Summary of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of a special military operation on the territory of Ukraine (21072022)


According to the updated data, as a result of the strike on July 16 with high-precision weapons of the Russian Aerospace Forces on the temporary deployment point of nationalists in the recreation center "Empire" in the village of Konstantinovka, Odessa region, more than 600 militants were eliminated. Including up to 120 foreign mercenaries. In addition, according to updated data, as a result of a high-precision strike on July 17 at the temporary deployment point of the AFU unit on the territory of a vegetable base in the city of Nikolaev, more than 320 nationalists were destroyed.


Against the background of significant losses in the east of Ukraine, the residents of the western regions mobilized into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine refuse to go to the Donbass. Thus, the servicemen of the 100th Territorial Defense Brigade in the city of Lutsk, Volyn region, in full refused to participate in hostilities. The command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has disarmed the brigade, the instigators have been arrested, and a decision has been made to re-form this compound.


The strikes by operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery against military facilities on the territory of Ukraine continue. During the day, nine control points were hit, including the 59th Marine Brigade in Nikolaev, where foreign mercenaries were stationed, as well as the 14th mechanized brigade in the Artemovsk area and the SBU headquarters in the city of Kramatorsk. Six warehouses with rocket and artillery weapons and ammunition were destroyed in the areas of the settlements of Konstantinovka, Fedorovka of the Donetsk People's Republic, Maliyevka of the Dnipropetrovsk region and the city of Nikolaev.


As part of the counter-battery fight, the following were hit: a battery of multiple launch rocket systems "Hurricane" and a battery of self-propelled artillery howitzers "Acacia" with a counter-battery radar station near the village of Zarozhnoye, Kharkiv region; eight Ukrainian platoons of multiple launch rocket systems "Grad" in the districts of Zvanovka, Kirovo, Soledar, Krasnoe, Platonovka of the Donetsk People's Republic, Dobropolye of the Zaporozhye region and Shirokoe of the Mykolaiv region; nine artillery platoons of D-20 howitzers and seven artillery platoons of D-30 guns in the areas of the settlements of Seversk, Kirovo, Novomikhailovka, Konstantinovka, Kleshcheyevka, Georgievka of the Donetsk People's Republic, Novopavlovka, Veseloye of the Zaporozhye region, as well as Dobroye of the Mykolaiv region.


1 Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force was shot down by the fighter aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the Kramatorsk area of the Donetsk People's Republic.


In addition, Russian air defense means shot down a Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Forces in the Pervomaiske area of the Mykolaiv region, as well as five Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in the areas of the settlements of Topolskoye, Dementievka, Peschanoye of the Kharkiv region, Yenakiyevo and Makeyevka of the Donetsk People's Republic. Eight shells of the Hurricane multiple launch rocket system were intercepted in the areas of Chernobayevka, Cossack Camps of the Kherson region and Kamenka of the Kharkiv region.


In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 260 aircraft, 144 helicopters, 1,577 unmanned aerial vehicles, 356 anti-aircraft missile systems, 4,135 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 762 multiple rocket launchers, 3,174 field artillery and mortar guns, as well as 4,413 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed.

Posted by: Summary21072022 | Jul 21 2022 11:08 utc | 58

The German gov't has said that it is due to U.S. sanctions that they are not opening Nord Stream 2. So they're damned if they do and they're damned if they don't because if they disobey their masters in Washington, they'll be sanctioned to death. Germany can either ruin their economy "voluntarily" or the U.S. will do it for them.

Posted by: aquileia | Jul 21 2022 11:10 utc | 59

okay, suppose NS2 is opened, what would happen next?

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jul 21 2022 11:06 utc | 54
----------

Good question.
All transit gas pipelines going across unfriendlies would stop.
By the way, everyone is worried about possibility of gas cut off to EU, but have anyone thought about the Ukraine? It has only one pipeline working...still...

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 11:11 utc | 60

okay, suppose NS2 is opened, what would happen next?

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jul 21 2022 11:06 utc | 54

---

Growth of the Petroruble.

At the expense of the Eurodollar, the most actively traded futures contract.

Posted by: too scents | Jul 21 2022 11:17 utc | 61

"They are big experts on non-traditional relations, and they have also decided to make a bid for non-traditional energy sources like the sun and wind."

Destruction of culture and destruction of economy in one sentence.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jul 21 2022 11:24 utc | 62

Zelly promised today to win the war before winter comes. And asked for weapons and training. UK sends 50k shells and "hundreds" of anti-tanks, Pentagon asked for 480 himars from the budget.

Posted by: rk | Jul 21 2022 11:24 utc | 63

@ omae wa mou shinderu | Jul 21 2022 11:28 utc | 62

No.
CIA said Russia has 15k dead and Ukr less than that!
Which is absolutely hilarious. CIA is with the war gang in US, the stealing of votes and so on. Written by diversity hire, as you can expect.

Posted by: rk | Jul 21 2022 11:47 utc | 64

[email protected] they still used string and cups to communicate in the Ukraine.....little tip, GLs audience in western white male, his new round tables will also bring more people to his channel.....like him or not, he gets traction.....others....not so much.

Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Jul 21 2022 11:48 utc | 65

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Jul 21 2022 9:34 utc | 28

Since you mention Joschka Fischer. I stumbled across this article written in the Asia Times by David P. Goldman where he recounts the following encounter with
Fischer:

A couple of years ago he told me, “It was a matter of great good fortune that I started my career on the extreme left of politics. When I came to Washington as foreign minister during the [George W Bush] administration and met the neoconservatives, I instantly recognized them as the old comrades! I got the book by Richard Perle and David Frum, An End to Evil, and took Trotsky’s
Permanent Revolution from my bookshelf, and compared them page by page. Except for some changes in terminology, they were the same book.”


Posted by: vato | Jul 21 2022 11:48 utc | 66

Posted by: vato | Jul 21 2022 11:48 utc | 65

yes, exactly, that confirms my suspicion that globalism of today is Troskyism of yesteryear. The old Trotskyites became neoliberals under Kennedy and Neocons afterwards and got so obnoxious Brzezinski had to effectively disavow them. At least Stalin was no globalist, as someone said.

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jul 21 2022 11:52 utc | 67

On July 19, a guest article by Liana Fix on the Ukraine conflict was printed on the German website of "Zeit Online".
Title: "War in Ukraine: Forcing Putin to Ceasefire".
Summary: "It is easy to imagine that after a possibly successful conquest of the Donbass, Russia will make a poisoned offer of a ceasefire to get the West to put pressure on Ukraine. The West must not fall into such a trap, even though the temptation will be great in the fall and winter. The only way to achieve a realistic cease-fire in Ukraine is to impose it on Putin."

Liana Fix apparently has no problems with military coercive measures against her "enemies". In her opinion, a ceasefire and negotiated solutions in Ukraine are not in principle reprehensible, just as little as war measures against the "enemies" of Ukraine. She only has problems with the idea that she will get a few in the face from her "enemies".
The only way to implement the dream of Liana Fix about her "realistic" ceasefire in Ukraine will not happen.

Similarly weird chains of argumentation can also be found in the gas dispute.
Thesis: Russia wants to make Western Europe dependent on natural gas supplies in order to patronize it.
Question: Why should Russia in the future waste energy on a condition (dependence) that Western Europe has already voluntarily brought itself into about in the past?

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Posted by: debakelspektakel | Jul 21 2022 11:56 utc | 68

Here’s some local (Canadian) reporting on the turbine situation (and Putin’s bizarre - to me - claims that it would be intentionally misrepaired). All other reports I found were re-posts of AP, Reuters or AFP.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/europe-russia-ukraine-nord-stream-1.6526779

Chrystia Freeland backed her way out of her tight corner by saying that returning the turbine was the right thing to do… while also saying that in Russia, economic technocrats are as guilty of war crimes in Ukraine as Russian generals, or something to that effect. (There was some suggestion she was lobbying the foreign affairs and international development committee because she disagreed with the turbine decision. From a Globe and Mail reporter.)

Completely without irony, a gushy post on her Twitter account about meeting with the head of the IMF at G20:
https://twitter.com/cafreeland/status/1548362603797221378

Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Jul 21 2022 11:57 utc | 69

Google says "LIANA FIX - Resident Fellow at the German Marshall Fund in Washington, D.C.". Looking at her photo will prevent you from having normal blood flow in all body parts for 24h

Posted by: rk | Jul 21 2022 12:00 utc | 70

Paul Greenwood | Jul 21 2022 9:41 utc | 34

I see Russia's position as allowing the EU to die by its own hand without stepping in to prevent that suicide. Russia is no doubt capable of retrofitting with its own turbines. But why should it? As with the cut off of gas by Ukraine - no doubt Russia could pump extra gas through the remaining Ukraine line/s but Europe have been up to their balls or female anatomy in the US project in Ukraine so why should it? Russia will stick to its contracts but contracts work both ways. As we see there are contracts for transmission, be it pipelines or compressors with parties other than Russia. Russia is simply sitting back, upholding its part of contracts, and watching in fascination as Europe destroys itself by its own hand.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jul 21 2022 12:03 utc | 71

The UK government has published a document stating that the import of coal, oil and gold from Russia will be banned. The embargo on gold comes into force on July 21, on coal - on August 10, on oil - on December 31.

The National Bank of Ukraine devalued the hryvnia by 25%, reducing it to UAH 36.57/$. the previous official rate of 29.25 UAH/$.

Gas prices in Europe fell by 6.5% after the restart of Nord Stream, compared to yesterday, to $1,532 per 1000 cubic meters.

Draghi is gone...

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 12:08 utc | 72

….,okay, suppose NS2 is opened, what would happen next?…..

Price of Natural Gas in Europe would drop to 2019 price which is 1/4 of today‘s price. German export industry would thrive. French Farmers would be able to buy cheap fertilizer again. Italian Grandmothers could heat their apartments. The cost of bread in Spain would be cut in half.

Posted by: Exile | Jul 21 2022 12:11 utc | 73

Posted by: Exile | Jul 21 2022 12:11 utc | 72
--------------
Not exactly, as Germany has to sign a new contract, so the price will be a few % less than the market price...

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 12:13 utc | 74

How are the Ukrainian forces staying in the conflict?

Posted by: Jpc | Jul 21 2022 12:14 utc | 75

Prices in stores in the Ternopil and Lvov regions began to be indicated in Ukrainian hryvnia and Polish zloty. Hungarian Foreign Minister is on a visit to Moscow.
Cut in pieces soon, deleted from the map

Posted by: rk | Jul 21 2022 12:16 utc | 76

How are the Ukrainian forces staying in the conflict?
Posted by: Jpc | Jul 21 2022 12:14 utc | 74

They are dumb enough to allow the anglo elite world to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jul 21 2022 12:25 utc | 77

'resumption' at 40% NS1 reported by some German bureaucrat. Winter 2022-2023 futures down to about 152 Euro/MWh, down only 6% overnight. Note actual price paid for this coming heating season is often much lower.

Partial relief, in other words.

With a fall in consumption (natural effect of higher price, and distributed in a cruel way to those who can least afford it), there will be no catastrophic shortage, not in Germany anyway. Continental storage will probably be emptied by the end of the heating season though.

Regarding NS2 - don't hold your breath. German government lacked the guts to fight for it and use its influence over EU for years. Now they are going to be fleeced by the other gas suppliers, who are actually less interested in long term cooperation.

Posted by: ptb | Jul 21 2022 12:29 utc | 78

Please delete this post if it's too off-topic.

It looks like the chip sanctions against China are not having their intended effect and might even be backfiring because they are forcing China to catch up quickly:


China’s Top Chipmaker Achieves Breakthrough Despite US Curbs

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. has likely advanced its production technology by two generations, defying US sanctions intended to halt the rise of China’s largest chipmaker.

The Shanghai-based manufacturer is shipping Bitcoin-mining semiconductors built using 7-nanometer technology, industry watchers TechInsights wrote in a blog post on Tuesday. That’s well ahead of SMIC’s established 14nm technology, a measure of fabrication complexity in which narrower transistor widths help produce faster and more efficient chips. Since late 2020, the US has barred the unlicensed sale to the Chinese firm of equipment that can be used to fabricate semiconductors of 10nm and beyond, infuriating Beijing.

...

SMIC’s surprising progress raises questions about how effective the export control mechanism has been and whether Washington can indeed thwart China’s ambition to foster a world-class chip industry at home and reduce reliance on foreign technologies.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-21/china-s-top-chipmaker-makes-big-tech-advances-despite-us-curbs?sref=ihFQzitE

Posted by: aquileia | Jul 21 2022 12:30 utc | 79

They are dumb enough ...

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jul 21 2022 12:25 utc | 76

---

We will see when Ukraine eventually surrenders the cost that Russia must countenance to support the failed state.

Ukrainians' basic existence depends upon the wartime economy. They aren't dumb. They have been sold into servitude.

Posted by: too scents | Jul 21 2022 12:36 utc | 80

Only one turbine stands between civilization and chaos:

"If we don't get the gas turbine, we won't get any more gas," Baerbock described the argument against Canada's concerns, "then we as Germany can no longer provide any support for Ukraine at all because we are then busy with popular uprisings".

https://newsrnd.com/news/2022-07-21-%22people-s-uprisings%22-in-germany-when-the-gas-was-stopped--baerbock-makes-you-sit-up-and-take-notice-in-talk.SkldCmaU35.html

Posted by: aquileia | Jul 21 2022 12:43 utc | 81

Alex Christoforou
Arrivederci Draghi. Putin 'golden billion' & end of globalism. Boris, Hasta la vista baby

About the Zelensky curse. Everyone touching Zelensky must go. When does regime change hit Germany?

Posted by: Norwegian | Jul 21 2022 12:44 utc | 82

@too scents | Jul 21 2022 12:36 utc | 80
Russia won't have to support anything. The most important resources are in the regions that are no longer in Ukr, they'll support themselves very well.
Shell paid 10bn to Ukr for a gas field in Donbass they never used and never will. Search, it appears on google. And gas isn't the only thing useful there.

Posted by: rk | Jul 21 2022 12:45 utc | 83

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jul 21 2022 8:23 utc | 9

What is said by hrw(how can be an organization settled in the usa in favour of human rights remains a mistery) is irrelevant to mankind..they only want to put Russia and 404 at the same level..no..it's another lie..the ukronazi have always used civilians as human shields..we know that their coward tactic is to put civilians at risk and then blame Russia.

Posted by: LuBa | Jul 21 2022 12:46 utc | 84

@rk | Jul 21 2022 12:45 utc | 83

---

If you don't treat a wound it will become infected.

Posted by: too scents | Jul 21 2022 12:49 utc | 85

I hope someone is translating MOA contents into German for local consumption. At least to awaken the citizenry. It's such a pity that some inept functionaries like Olaf Scholz and Ursula von der Leyen are making "monkeys" of the whole of European citizens, as the "Indian Punchline" writer aptly puts it.

Posted by: Steve | Jul 21 2022 12:52 utc | 86

"I hope someone is translating MOA contents into German for local consumption. At least to awaken the citizenry. It's such a pity that some inept functionaries like Olaf Scholz and Ursula von der Leyen are making "monkeys" of the whole of European citizens, as the "Indian Punchline" writer aptly puts it."
I think 1789 is imminent in Europe. This madness does not end until the heads are on the wall.

Posted by: Pavi | Jul 21 2022 13:05 utc | 87

Portugal has already reacted to the European Commission's proposal and said no. The Secretary of State for the Environment and Energy, João Galamba, “does not accept” the proposal and assumes that it is “completely inappropriate for countries that are not interconnected”, as is the case of Portugal, cites the same newspaper. By not benefiting from such interconnections, Portugal always had to buy the most expensive gas, he recalls.

It should be noted that, due to the drought, Portugal “brutally increased” gas consumption, recalls Galamba. Specifically, in the first five months of 2022, gas consumption in the Portuguese country increased by around 67% compared to 2021. And it is used for electricity production and for industry. This reduction would mean for Portugal that companies would have to cut production or else the country would jeopardize the electricity supply.

https://www.idealista.pt/news/financas/economia/2022/07/21/53251-portugal-e-espanha-recusam-corte-de-gas-em-15-na-ue

Posted by: António Ferrão | Jul 21 2022 13:05 utc | 88

https://twitter.com/colonelhomsi/status/1549726213769502721?s=21&t=0l32-4wxKQXOblrO2vAtIw Can anyone find a link on “AW” (I assume Arab weekly, but I cannot find such article) that reports such claims? This is likley to be bullshit.

Posted by: Mathew | Jul 21 2022 13:11 utc | 89

@Mathew | Jul 21 2022 13:11 utc | 88

Can anyone find a link on “AW”

https://aw.gov.pl/en/

Posted by: Norwegian | Jul 21 2022 13:18 utc | 90

Exile @52

If your friend has been swallowing an annual heating bill of 5000 euro in good times and has done nothing about it he richly deserves what is coming.

My own friends are equally dim.

Conservation and efficiency are equations with near infinite variables. Very few ever solve the equation. Even hard times will not change much. Most would rather suffer than have to think or to change.

Posted by: oldhippie | Jul 21 2022 13:20 utc | 91

@Mathew | Jul 21 2022 13:11 utc | 88

Interesting link, it includes ID. Is it yours or tracking the viewers here?

Anyway, Russia said multiple times Poland wants in so yes, it is possible. One thing to remember is that both Trump and Biden refused to offer security guarantees to Poland. The other thing to remember is that Putin said it doesn't matter if is nato or not nato, uninvited guests will be terminated.
See Duda as a puppet with the IQ of a 20yo but emotionally at 5yo. He probably also has an underdeveloped organ and that makes him angry all the time. He's a perfect puppet, better than Zelly.
I really hope he does it. If Poland attacks, nato collapses instantly.

Posted by: rk | Jul 21 2022 13:32 utc | 92

The European body politic has become, in the past couple of decades, a subject people who are even more militantly ignorant than the American people. Americans may have, in many ways, lost their democracy, but they at least know enough not to trust our "leaders" and the mainstream media. Europeans, in contrast, trust their institutions and yearn for authoritarian measures about almost everything to add meaning to their lives which are primarily focused on hedonism and materialism. I'm being very general here don't want to disparage those in Europe who are actually interested in such concepts as truth, reason and spirituality. I really don't blame Europeans too much because they have been served by a ruling class that have provided Western Europeans with a healthier and more prosperous life compared to citizens of the USA who have had a corrupt and/or incompetent set of rulers for some time and thus trust their ruling classes and their media.

One of the keys of fascism (both of the left and right) is that it fills the need for both a sense of transcendent meaning and community. The struggle against the evil is very seductive and Euro media is filling that need by pointing east.

Posted by: Chris Cosmos | Jul 21 2022 13:32 utc | 93

Just at no. 22. You are right go back a few years to EU negotiations with USA on the trans atlantic trade treasy. Back then the EU had proper and very good negotiators. They ceased the negotiations because the USA would not make any tariff concessions at all. The Chief EU negotiator stated the proposals by the USA amounted to their wanting EU businesses to transfer to the USA thereby making millions unemployed in Europe. Well the USA have done this by virtue of the Globalists in power at the EU their stupidity hubris incompetence and lust for absolute power. Fools. Completell and utterly fools.

Posted by: Jo Dominich | Jul 21 2022 13:35 utc | 94

Posted by: watcher | Jul 21 2022 10:05 utc | 43

Biden resigning would be an equivocal victory for the world. He would be replaced by VP Harris, who is either acting as if or really is too stupid for polite society. She would be controlled by the same neocon and neoliberal imperialists who are currently behind the curtain. Rational, visionary, practical reevaluation of the world is beyond her grasp, or would violate the airhead persona she's created for the media.

Dealing with merely corrupt politicians like Biden or Pelosi (3rd in line of succession) is at least predictable. Dealing with an unhinged bimbo, whether honestly stupid or cunningly acted out, would add a level of complexity to diplomacy that would at least delay resolution.

Posted by: jhill | Jul 21 2022 13:35 utc | 95

Come già postato diverse volte
E sicuramente sono io che non capisco
Ma continuare ad alimentare l'economia d l nemico che ti vuole morto a un che di perverso e di una dose eccessiva di masochismo distruttivo.
Pertanto, chiusura di tutti i rubinetti e ergetici verso l'occidente, compresi i rifornitori paralleli

Posted by: Alessandro Cagliostr | Jul 21 2022 13:37 utc | 96

The decision makers in the circles of the western governments have to be put in the position of having their own actual physical skin, their own actual hides, at stake in the game. That is quite factually the only way that there is even the possibility of them even pretending to be rational human beings anymore.
As long as they believe, or rather know, that they themselves will face no consequences in physical reality, they will continue to behave exactly as they are right now.

Posted by: Josh | Jul 21 2022 13:38 utc | 97

Yes, they really actually are that far gone.

Posted by: Josh | Jul 21 2022 13:39 utc | 98

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jul 21 2022 8:23 utc

"For whatever it is worth, HRW just came out with a report that blames both Urainians and Russians for putting civilans unnecessarily at risk."

Who cares about what HRW "came out with"?
Who cares about what HRW reports?
WHO are they, anyway?
And who are they to BLAME anyone?

Posted by: LongCi | Jul 21 2022 13:40 utc | 99

Posted by: ostro | Jul 21 2022 12:13 utc | 73

And it was only last year when the Russians encouraged the Europeans to lock into longer-term contracts at relatively low gas prices, and the EU decided it would be smarter to operate at spot rates.

This was a planned murder of the EU economies with malice aforethought by so-called European elites.

And now they’re on to the farmers and food supplies at a time when the world starts to starve.
y
The EU is run by genocidal criminals.

Posted by: Cato the Uncensored | Jul 21 2022 13:48 utc | 100

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