Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-25

[Sheilbh]

I agree with all that - what I meant on the useful idiot thing was the people who basically have spent the last 8 years insisting Ukraine's a far-right country and that the Azov batallion are just synecdoche for all of Ukraine or are particularly focused on them.

If I heard that over the last years my default assumption = tankie.

[Syt]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hungary-working-solution-pay-russian-gas-may-foreign-minister-2022-04-06/

Breaking ranks with EU, Hungary says ready to pay for Russian gas in roubles

BUDAPEST/LONDON, April 6 (Reuters) - Hungary said on Wednesday it was prepared to pay roubles for Russian gas, breaking ranks with the European Union which has sought a united front in opposing Moscow's demand for payment in the currency.

Hungary will pay for shipments in roubles if Russia asks it to, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told a news conference on Wednesday in reply to a Reuters question.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned Europe it risks having gas supplies cut unless it pays in roubles as he seeks retaliation over Western sanctions for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

With weeks go to before bills are due, the European Commission has said that those with contracts requiring payment in euros or dollars should stick to that.

Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto earlier said that EU authorities had "no role" to play in its gas supply deal with Russia, which was based on a bilateral contract between units of Hungarian state-owned MVM and of Gazprom.

The European Commission does not comment on declarations from national authorities, a spokesperson said.

Hungary has been one of a few EU member states that have rejected energy sanctions against Moscow in response to the invasion, which Russia terms a "special military operation".

Orban, whose government has pursued close business relations with Moscow for over a decade, swept to power for a fourth consecutive term in elections on Sunday, partly on a pledge to preserve security of gas supply for Hungarian households.

RELIANT ON RUSSIAN GAS

While Putin's demand has raised hackles in many of Europe's capitals, its governments - which on average rely on Russia for more than a third of their gas - are discussing the issue with energy companies.

On Monday, Slovakia said it will act in unison with the EU, while Poland's dominant gas company PGNiG has maintained that its original contract with Gazprom which expires at the end of this year is binding on both parties.

Austria's OMV (OMVV.VI) and Russia's Gazprom (GAZP.MM) have had initial contact about paying for gas in roubles, a spokesperson for OMV said on Friday, though the government in Vienna said there was no basis for payment in any currency other than euros or dollars.

Ukraine's foreign minister insisted an embargo on Russian gas and oil is needed but the European Union has so far stopped short, while preparing to propose a ban on coal imports and other products. read more

European buyers are increasing shipments of coal from across the globe against a backdrop of a proposed EU ban on Russian imports and the scramble to relieve tight gas supplies, according to data and shipping sources. read more

The European Commission's intention "that there should be some kind of common response from countries importing Russian gas" was not considered necessary, Hungary's Szijjarto said, adding that nations had individually signed bilateral contracts.

"And ... no one has a say in how we modify our own contract."

Hungary, which is heavily reliant on Russian gas and oil imports, signed a new long-term gas supply deal last year under which Gazprom is expected to ship 4.5 billion cubic metres of gas annually.

Meanwhile, Putin has discussed expanding Moscow's economic cooperation with Belgrade, including in the energy sector, with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic. read more

Serbia's contract for Russian gas expires on May 31. "Talks about the new contract need to be launched as soon as possible," a statement from Vucic's office said.

Latvia's largest gas trader, which is a third owned by Gazprom, has said it is considering whether it should pay in euros or roubles for Russian gas but a Latvian foreign ministry spokesman said: "Latvia does not support paying in roubles and there has to be a common EU approach."

Lithuania has said it will no longer import Russian gas to meet its domestic needs, becoming the first country in Europe to have secured its independence from Russian supplies.

Russian gas deliveries to Europe via three key pipeline routes were broadly steady overall on Wednesday.

Last month quasi-state company OMV have announced that they will pivot away from oil and gas and instead focus on chemical products. They want to use the profits from oil/gas to finance the pivot. Their goal is to reduce oil/gas production by 1/5 by 2030 (not exactly burning the rubber on this, pun intended).

[Tamas]

Shocking that Orban continues to be Putin's lapdog. Not.

I wouldn't rule out Putin has something serious on him, although it is hard to imagine what that his supporters would actually care about.

I remember how Orban went to Moscow in 2014, then, completely out of the blue, he came back with the biggest ever loan agreed in Hungary's history to build the nuclear plant expansion (that has not gotten anywhere yet, but the loan is being paid back), and Hungary became BFF with Russia from there.

[barkdreg]

Unless I seriously fail at reading maps I can see no way for Russian gas to reach Hungary without crossing Ukrainian soil.

[Josquius]

Unless I seriously fail at reading maps I can see no way for Russian gas to reach Hungary without crossing Ukrainian soil.

Germany and I believe Austria continue to import it.

[Tamas]

Unless I seriously fail at reading maps I can see no way for Russian gas to reach Hungary without crossing Ukrainian soil.

I could be wrong but I think a fair amount of countries are still using the gas pipes through Ukraine. And I assume Ukraine won't mess with that until there's any (hope) of getting some support from those countries. It's a weird war.

[Legbiter]

The Americans just passed a Lend-Lease bill to supply Ukraine with weapons. Hopefully Ukrainian Shermans and Studebakers start showing up at the front.

[Admiral Yi]

And Spam.

[barkdreg]

I could be wrong but I think a fair amount of countries are still using the gas pipes through Ukraine. And I assume Ukraine won't mess with that until there's any (hope) of getting some support from those countries. It's a weird war.

If Hungary ends up being the only country paying rubles and receiving gas that might change.

[Tamas]

I could be wrong but I think a fair amount of countries are still using the gas pipes through Ukraine. And I assume Ukraine won't mess with that until there's any (hope) of getting some support from those countries. It's a weird war.

If Hungary ends up being the only country paying rubles and receiving gas that might change.

Possibly, but I am quite convinced the whole ruble thing is an obvious bluff. Sure, losing access to Russian gas would be pretty bad on the short term for a number of countries. But losing their European sales would cripple Russia. They are not going to do it.

[Admiral Yi]

It's an interesting game of chicken.

[Legbiter]

I could be wrong but I think a fair amount of countries are still using the gas pipes through Ukraine. And I assume Ukraine won't mess with that until there's any (hope) of getting some support from those countries. It's a weird war.

Seems to me the Ukrainians have a hard veto on gas shipments to Europe. If it bothers them so much they can blow up the pipelines on their own soil. Voilà, no Russian gas to Europe.

[Legbiter]

And Spam.

 

[Duque de Bragança]

I could be wrong but I think a fair amount of countries are still using the gas pipes through Ukraine. And I assume Ukraine won't mess with that until there's any (hope) of getting some support from those countries. It's a weird war.

Seems to me the Ukrainians have a hard veto on gas shipments to Europe. If it bothers them so much they can blow up the pipelines on their own soil. Voilà, no Russian gas to Europe.

There would be still be the Nordstream pipeline (Danke Frau Merkel).

[Barrister]

I could be wrong but I think a fair amount of countries are still using the gas pipes through Ukraine. And I assume Ukraine won't mess with that until there's any (hope) of getting some support from those countries. It's a weird war.

Seems to me the Ukrainians have a hard veto on gas shipments to Europe. If it bothers them so much they can blow up the pipelines on their own soil. Voilà, no Russian gas to Europe.

My understanding is Ukraine still gets transit fees from that pipeline - which given the general devastation to their economy they probably are loathe to give up.