Also, is Gazprom's main asset its reliability? This has become an annual affair. I thought its greatest assets were its large reserves and the fact that at the moment it's the cheapest, fastest way to get gas to eager consumers with money, in Europe. I know Gazprom is more reliable, by comparison, than some other Russian companies, but I've never heard of any Russian business being touted for its reliability. Its connection to the Kremlin is a double-edged sword in the regard. How can any business so highly politicized in a country so politically ... er, assertive, be considered "reliable?" Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
Why is no one miffed at Ukraine for this?
I guess cos the dominant narrative in the West is Soviet Russian bully and poor Ukrainian victim. now it's established, you simply fill in the gaps every time there's a new issue, but you never change the framing. Trying to create a more nuanced idea would make poor little msm heads explode. keep to the Fen Causeway
Both Russian and Ukrainian communication on this seem insincere, and this time I don't think people are going full tilt for the big bad Russia narrative. Tymoshenko's little handwritten addendum, for example, has been widely reported.
On the Russian side, it feels as if Putin and Miller are all talk loudly, carry little stick. They don't look as if they know what to do. Of course they can't beat Ukraine at this game. If they're still trying to make a pretence of it, that probably means they're not in full control on their own side. The Ukrainians are not giving anything up above the table (Russia has already offered higher transit rates that roughly even out the higher gas rates demanded, in other words the status quo), but one has to suppose they're not giving anything up under the table either. Which may mean some angry mavericks in the Russian gas trade?
One thing's for sure - if this goes on much longer, there will really start to be shortages in some European countries as their neighbours hold on to their own reserves. And Russia will take the greatest part of the final blame. So now, either Putin can stop it, or he can't.
If he can't, you're probably right it will shake the Europeans out of their natgas complacency.
