After the maintenance of Nord Stream 1, the gas supply through the German-Russian gas pipeline started again on Thursday morning. Gas is flowing again, a spokesman for Nord Stream AG told the German Press Agency. It will take some time before the full transport capacity is reached.
It had previously been feared that after the ten-day maintenance, Moscow could completely allow the gas tap and thus further aggravate the energy crisis. After Russia's attack on Ukraine, the West imposed sanctions on Russia. Russia, in turn, had completely or partially stopped gas supplies to European countries.
In the event of a gas emergency, EU states should be able to be forced to save gas, according to the will of the European Commission. Specifically, the Brussels authority proposed on Wednesday that binding reduction targets should be possible if not enough is saved. The EU countries should voluntarily do everything to reduce their consumption in the coming months by 15 percent compared to the average of the previous five years.
According to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a complete stop in the supply of gas from Russia to the European Union is likely. "Russia is blackmailing us, Russia is using energy as a weapon."
This is how the German newspapers comment on the current gas crisis:
"Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung": "The EU Commission would simply ignore the national governments by being forced to save gas. The Brussels authority as a superpower in Europe? The European plan is questionable for another reason. In all the crises of the recent For the most part, the crisis management of the EU Commission has not worked. Just think of the failed joint procurement of vaccines and protective masks in the corona pandemic or the problem of refugee distribution, which has not yet been solved. Fortunately, the EU states have to accept the proposals agree with the Commission - and it is not to be expected that they will do so. In any case, the new gas contingency plan is once again not a great moment in EU politics."
"Allgemeine Zeitung" (Mainz): "Looking at Moscow with concern about what will happen now is further evidence of the West's fatal dependence on Russian gas. Putin knows how to use this and he does it coldly. Like a dealer throws he threw a bit of stuff at the junkie's feet, not without threatening that it was the last package if he didn't behave properly. That's how you keep drug addicts docile. But it's also true: every cubic meter of gas that might flow back to us from Russia can help a bit to prepare for all winter scenarios that fill the stores."
"Münchner Merkur": "Even if Germany were to give in to Putin's urging and open the Nord Stream II pipeline now: When in doubt, the Kremlin boss always comes up with a new excuse to turn on the gas tap. Putin wants it too, just like on the battlefields in Ukraine maintain escalation dominance in the gas war. He has never been a reliable partner, as some undeterred claims. Europe would be crazy to get involved in its cat-and-mouse game. The EU must do everything in its power to deal with the gas emergency The traffic lights in Berlin still have a lot of homework to do, keywords: nuclear and biogas. And everyone must secretly hope that there is still some economic sense left in Moscow. Nobody pays as princely for Russian gas as Europe. The ailing, deep It will be difficult for Russia, which is sinking into recession, to do without this income in the long term. Increasing the price of gas with ever new games is one thing, turning off the tap is another, because then it is the game off. Also for Putin."
"Frankfurter Neue Presse": "Is Russia supplying gas again, isn't it? We'll find out this Thursday. The dictator in the Kremlin is making us flounder. He's playing on the fear of the Germans. The next few months will show how long the solidarity with Ukraine lasts when it gets colder in our rooms and on the accounts emptier. But the Russian soldiers and the local population are also facing a hard winter. And whether Russia can really afford the consequence, on the gas billions Leaving Europe is doubtful. For us, it is worth standing firm and working flat out on an energy supply that will allow us to get out of Putin's game."
"Die Glocke" (Oelde): "Russia announces deliveries to Germany, at the same time Putin whispers about a possible reduction in the delivery volume through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline and once again refers to the unused Nord Stream 2 pipeline. These cards are on the Russian table "It is unclear who Putin still intends to play. Because as much as he builds on the threat 'We can cut off Europe's gas', Russia needs the income from gas sales. Western countries are already doing everything they can to reduce consumption and to buy gas elsewhere. So Putin must be interested in selling as much as possible to Europe as long as there is demand for it there and as long as Russia has no other buyers due to a lack of pipeline capacity. These are also the cards that the EU has in its hand Why not let Putin flounder a bit and suggest that gas is not so urgently needed? Why shouldn't we continue to fill the aggressor's war chest?"
"Stuttgarter Nachrichten": "The magic word is solidarity. If a country runs out of gas, the community should help. In theory, this is what the EU plan provides. But Hungary has already announced that it will no longer supply gas from August There is also a clear grumbling to be heard in countries like Poland. The storage facilities there are full because the government never trusted Moscow's words. And now, in an emergency, gas should be pumped to Germany of all places, which in recent years has been Arrogance has reacted to the numerous warnings from Warsaw. Vladimir Putin is using his gas as a weapon for a frontal attack on Western democracy. Fighting off this attack in solidarity will be the real challenge next winter."
"Ludwigsburger Kreiszeitung": "There are many useful suggestions in the plan now presented by the Commission. But the EU Commission has set its plan on the wrong track in three respects. If all measures throughout Europe are to take effect from August 1st , it would have taken longer periods of time instead of proposing something on July 20, which the governments are supposed to discuss and pursue in the Council of Ministers on July 26. Wanting to intervene in the rights of the 27 member countries without saying specifically how, when and at which points, at best, there should be feigned activism. In addition, the Commission should also have involved Parliament in order to improve the basis for approval."
"Reutlinger General-Anzeiger": "Putin is trying to push the West along with more and more new games. First he demands payment for the gas deliveries in rubles, then he obtains the return of a turbine actually affected by sanctions in order to get Nord Stream 1 back into operation Now he's even bringing the new Nord Stream 2 pipeline back into play and tempting with cheaper prices. For Putin, every concession is proof of the West's weakness and is celebrated domestically as a victory."
"Badische Zeitung" (Freiburg): "Will the gas flow again? (...) The contradictory indications from Wednesday were primarily intended to create confusion and demonstrate power. (...) Without a common set of rules, the EU threatens to be divided and crushed in an emergency . Being in solidarity, saving energy, replacing gas wherever possible and not ignoring the consequences of climate change - these are reasonable guiding principles. But the EU, and above all gas-addicted Germany, will push it to the breaking point. (... )"
"Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung": "Putin's threats are at most superficially about technical issues such as the delivery of a turbine for the pipeline that has been repaired in Canada. They are primarily another attempt to blackmail Germany and the EU on the Ukraine side, then the winter will be cold and expensive. A complete stop to gas supplies is always in the offing. This is causing great nervousness in Germany, and rightly so. But the threats from the Moscow autocrat must by no means lead to a relaxation of western sanctions. And they may be allowed to Germany And certainly not to dissuade the EU from supporting Ukraine in its defense against the illegal attack by the Russian military - also and especially with heavy weapons."
"Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung" (Heidelberg): "Putin is a hardened gambler. Whether wars on the outskirts of Georgia or in Ukraine, whether material battles in Syria, whether business - the Kremlin ruler has time and nerves. He can understand the scenarios of "Stretch out aggression and sham retreats for miles. And no member of the opposition, no journalist will ever push him or use arguments. The repressive system is already taking care of that. Most decision-makers in Europe will not have realized what a perfidious and at the same time tough game they were playing in a row of February 24. Sayings like "in Ukraine our freedom will be defended" only mask the fact that Russia is in the process of balancing out a new world order - with shocking success - and the answer should not be that other dictators will have gas in the future to buy - but a real energy transition. This is how the risk becomes an opportunity."
