First, I was a little skeptical. Then more and more sources confirmed what seems to be a fact: Russia will completely stop the delivery of gaz through the Ukraine and all Russian gaz will now flow through Turkey (see Bloomberg and LifeNews). Not only that, but the Russians have told the Europeans that if they want Russian gaz, they will have to build their own pipeline to Turkey at pay for it all.
Putin and Miller
The Europeans appear to be shell-shocked. Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission’s vice president for energy union, declared that this decision made “no economic sense”. As if the nonstop economic and political warfare waged by the EU against Russia did make any sense!
I can image the faces of the Eurobureaucrats when Alexei Miller, the head of Gazprom, told them that “now it is up to them to put in place the necessary infrastructure starting from the Turkish-Greek border” while the Russian Energy Minister Novak added that “the decision has been made, we are diversifying and eliminating the risks of unreliable countries that caused problems in past years, including for European consumers.”
In other words, the EU just lost it all and so did the Ukraine. Keep in mind that the EU has no other options then to purchase the Russian gas from Turkey while Russia can simply do without gaz exports to Europe because China has already signed a contract covering the exact same amount of gaz and possibly much more.
Let’s see now how the infinitely corrupt, arrogant, criminally irresponsible European elites will cope with an agriculture choking in useless surplus stocks, a society waging ideological war on 1.6 billion Muslims, and now with no energy.
The always irreplaceable Poles have come up with a brilliant strategy it appears: they will “not really” invite Putin to the commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz even though Auschwitz was liberated by the Soviet military. I am sure that Putin will be both impressed and heartbroken.
Nowadays every time I hear any news out of Europe, I always think that Victoria Nuland’s famous “f**k the EU” and how Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, called his colleagues the “great supine protoplasmic invertebrate jellies“. I share exactly the same sentiments: let them “Charlies” now freeze in their own pathetic mediocrity.
The Saker
Dear The Saker,
The EU parliament – the gift that just keeps on giving:
http://itar-tass.com/en/ukrainian-crisis-sanctions-and-reactions
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150115/1016934814.html
http://itar-tass.com/en/economy/771402
Delusional! Hello – anybody in there?
Regards,
Veritas
The bad news keep on coming for Russia: Cuba sold out. Check out the headlines.
Hollande lied. He spoke against the sanctions against Russia, but in the meantime the French supported additional sanctions that were not widely published. Check Boulevard Voltaire.
Makes sense… why would he speak that way, but not deliver the Mistral ships?
Putin got hoodwinked, just like Kadhafi and Assad before him.
Being French, this is exactly what I expected when I saw Hollande meeting with Putin in November.
What a chess player… he keeps getting screwed. I mean, even by a pathetic buffoon like Hollande.
The Swiss Central bank has depegged the Swiss Franc from the Euro. It caused an immediate 200bp drop in DXY (which was stabilized almost immediately).
Gas through Ukraine: The US hegemony is delighted to supply the EU with pricey gas as part of its campaign to make a EU-USA economic union. They are already eroding EU standards for genetically modified foods.
The story was from 2009.
@Sweet Ann,
What a beautiful video!, makes me cry….
Thank you Ann.
Les@ 7:38
What you are probably seeing is a large consumer such as an airline buying large futures to lock in these low price for a few years.
The airlines plan on making big profits from these low prices because they have stated that they will not be lowering fares.
Talk about shadenfreude. What did Obama and the EU think was supposed to happen? Does Russia get to wage economic warfare like the West or is that beyond the pale, really bad manners for Russia? It reminds me of how the West commits genocide in Iraq and then wonders “Why do they hate us???” I don’t know, Western politician– its a real mystery!
It will be interesting to see what happens to US/EU relations. If the situation gets very bad maybe some EU countries will join Russia’s customs union. In that event, the Obama administration will probably wonder “How could this happen??”
This is off topic but here is the latest insanity from Washington:
http://michael-hudson.com/2015/01/playing-the-pension-funds/
I can’t find anything elsewhere on this story. The bloomberg piece does not claim an immediate shutoff and is fairly confused anyway. Zerohedge is worse citing old Dailymail news.
Totally agree, mr Saker!
Although, it will hurt like hell for us EUropeans…
In the end, I hope Europe can become neutral, respect the differences between us and Russia as well as the US, and just try to follow a rational policy.
To Terry at 11:12:
Here is a pretty comprehensive article answering your questions.
http://russia-insider.com/en/2015/01/15/2440
I was interested to see the point made that Ukraine could possibly still negotiate for its own gas supply, but would no longer be able to conduct a transit operation. Given how the regime is conducting itself, this is an ultimatum the company had delivered earlier, but presumably the Europeans had hoped sanctions plus manipulated oil prices would change Gazprom’s tune. This hasn’t happened.
Increasingly the Paris affair looks more like an orchestrated, terrible diversion than anything else. There are far too many suspicious elements for it to be anything else, and I count the manipulation of the news site RT as one of them.
DID anyone see the mayhem with the swiss frank? It did a ruble.. Actually it went from $1.04 to $0.72 in an instant far worse the the rubles worst nightmare wiping out many hedge funds so the unemployment lines will be long.. The only time I seen something like this is when a country like Venezuela readjusts the exchange rate. A 30% swing last happened in 1998 when long term capital got floated and the fed covered the Yen trade which went from 100 to 130 as they closed out the positions.. But the swiss also raised interest rates as in you now have to pay the swiss banks 0.75% to store money in them.
I think Rus has made “promises” previously about supplies by the Nordstream route……
but must be trying to deal with backflow situations that it said were against contracts…..eg Slovakia to Ukraine.
What will Ukraine Freedom Act do re this-remember Obama says he can take “punitive action” if gas supplies are reduced, varied—-Rus provoking USA?
Hmm.
various extracts re background cont:”The US State Department assessed 140 governments that were potential beneficiaries of US foreign assistance and came up with the result that 50 states did not meet US minimum requirements of fiscal transparency, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.” Might be a clue where they want to go next? Ukraine also does not comply with FIT standards though regarding energy and natural resources it says.
«Now we have this information, Head of Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported that Russian security services are preparing anti-mobilization and anti-recruitment actions. Reaction of the law-enforcement authorities and regional heads must be immediate and hard» — said Kiev junta head.
Means what, apart from escalating paranoia?
MINSK, 13 January (BelTA) – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has sent an address to the heads of state of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) participating states as Belarus assumed chairmanship in the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council and the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission on 1 January 2015, BelTA learned from the Belarus President Administration.
The address reads that Belarus views the Eurasian Economic Union as a crucial integration project promoting economic and social stability in the region.Belarus also urges to elaborate the concept of the establishment of the common markets of electric energy, gas, oil and oil products. Look out EU?
The significance of Hungarian-Serbian relations is higher than before thanks to the geopolitical situation affecting both countries and the cancellation of the South Stream gas pipeline.Hungarian oil and gas company MOL has confirmed it is experiencing disruptions in diesel supply via a pipeline through Ukraine, but said it hopes the amount in the contract will be delivered later. Ukr military taking it?????? Better check it out.
Budapest, January 13 (MTI) – The Fidesz government is constantly engaging in “double talk” in connection with the free trade agreement under negotiation between the European Union and United States, Hungary’s radical nationalist Jobbik party said on Tuesday. – See more at: http://dailynewshungary.com/jobbik-accuses-govt-of-double-talk-over-eu-us-free-trade-talks/#sthash.UuWCRrCl.dpuf-talks about only USA benefiting at costs of others.This year will decide whether Europe takes a path towards regaining its sovereignty or becomes a colony of the US in economic terms, the Jobbik politician said. Concerns about 13-14% drop in trade to rus.
Kremlin-supporting Italian journalist sues Estonia over ban on entry.A major Russian IT firm is set to open in Estonia, creating 500 jobs in the process.
Riga, Moscow mayors to sign programme of cooperation.
Russia, Iran and Venezuela can dump mass of oil on market to destabilize S Arabia and western oil industry.
EU think this is offer. See itar tass. I think this is decision fit 3rd energy package
[from Blue]
From what I can see now the actual story is that Gazprom said that in several years all gas through Ukraine will disappear and EU will have to build pipe to Turkey to get it.
The Mail story os old — from 2009. Perhaps it was an error that it was put up again now, or may be that someone made some money by buying gas/oil and then selling it at a big profit as the price rose in response to that story?
But the real story is that the Eu must start building a pipe now — and that will be expensive at a time they don’t want more expense.
It will also strengthen Turkey and give them leverage by controlling so much of the gas to the EU. This will also tighten the deal with Russia.
At the same time, it puts a countdown on the viability of Uraine’s finances, and more pressure on the Kiev regime, as well as its dealings with the EU and IMF because it will cut all that revenue from having the gas pipes now.
So this in not quite a ‘check’ or capturing the queen, but a strong positional move which cannot be ignored and which will influence actions over the next few years as everyone scrambles to try to deal with impending change.
At the same it is fallout and a big proce to pay for the absurd way the EU, and Bulgaria, has killed the South Stream project — now both that and the Ukraine pipelines will not exist in a few years, and a crisis will hit then unless the EU makes some big investments in new pipes.
That’s going on what I see so far, and from the story at http://itar-tass.com/en/economy/771204
__Blue
Saker wrote :
The Europeans appear to be shell-shocked. Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission’s vice president for energy union, declared that this decision made “no economic sense”. As if the nonstop economic and political warfare waged by the EU against Russia did make any sense!
Exactly. There are non so blind as those who refuse to see, the saying goes. Their arrogance has completely blinded them to the consequences of their own actions, which doesn’t bode well for the ordinary EU citizen who just wants to live a peaceful life as best as they can, for who knows what other monumental error of judgement they are going to make next. Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first drive insane, the gods it would appear have driven the west insane, criminally insane.
And further news today from the Guardian no less :
“Patriotic group formed to defend Russia against pro-democracy protesters
Anti-Maidan pledges to fight any attempts to bring Russians to streets to protest against government”.
A new group of “patriots” have vowed to defend Russia against pro-democracy protesters who “threaten its constitution”, using violent means if necessary. The group, which calls itself anti-Maidan, said on Thursday it would fight any attempts to bring Russians on to the streets to protest against the government. Its name is a reference to the Maidan protests in Kiev last year that eventually led to the toppling of former Ukraine president Viktor Yanukovych.
“All street movements and colour revolutions lead to blood. Women, children and old people suffer first,” said Dmitry Sablin, previously a long-standing MP from President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party, who recently became a senator in Russia’s upper house of parliament.
“It is not acceptable for the minority to force its will upon the majority, as happened in Ukraine,” he added. “Under the slogan of fighting for democracy there is instead total fear, total propaganda, and no freedom.”
Sablin was joined at the launch of anti-Maidan by Russian nationalist politicians, a female ultimate-fighting champion and “The Surgeon”, leader of a biker gang known as the Night Wolves. The group said it would open up membership to anyone who was interested in joining.
“Decisions should be made in Moscow and not in Washington or Brussels,” said Nikolai Starikov, a nationalist writer and marginal politician. All the group insisted that the west had used pro-democracy activists to conquer Ukraine, both during the 2004 Orange Revolution and in last year’s Maidan protests, and was now looking to Russia.
“The ‘orange beast’ is sharpening its teeth and looking to Russia,” said The Surgeon, whose real name is Alexander Zaldostanov. He suggested an alternate name for the anti-Maidan group could be “Death to faggots”, without explaining why.
@ Erika – 14:44
,Now for the Russian context – a lot of Russian oligarchs and ordinary Russians have Swiss bank accounts, is this another Cyprus?’
NO. Its rather a late Christmas present for thise holding Franken liquid assets. Change them into YOUR local currency and see what you get: tons more of Rubels for ex. The Franken has risen huge right afterwards.
These you could repatriate and invest in Russia!
What aboutt that?
Speaking of “the always irreplaceable Poles”: Were we not supposed to believe recently that Gownopolska was on the unstoppable path towards superpower status as an LNG exporter? Just a little question out of sheer curiosity: Assume that the Psheks really did succeed in accomplishing this mission. Wouldn’t that instantly render the country totally broke and extremely polluted, even surpassing Nigeria? I mean, their grovelling on sheer vocation before their Western masters makes it highly likely they would try to supply everything almost for free and as fast as possible.
As regards all these ludicrous “commemorations” courtesy of the Eurotrash, they should be ridiculed and despised without apologies, period.
@ Erika
Gold core at zerohedge:
,Market Chaos as Swiss Franc Surges 30% In 13 Minutes, Gold Rises Sharply’
For ex. Germans from the border working in CH just had a 30% pay rise when they exchange Franken into €!
Imagine this.
Larchmonter 445 asked: Whose crediting rating is going to go to junk now?
Now that Russia and China are finally setting up their own, fairer, credit rating system that is really a moot point!
Russia Insider has reported on that.
K.
RE: Russia, Iran and Venezuela can dump mass of oil on market to destabilize S Arabia and western oil industry.
Not many people seemed to have noticed this. But the had a meting and said production will stay the same or go up. I been saying many things Putin should have done and although he never said it, they were done and I was shocked. Because logically, that was the way to be prepared. In fact he has done a lot more.. They just don’t announce it. I think Putin has bne preparing for this ever since he got the ultimatum from SA over Syria. If I was Putin,I would either stop oil production or pump as much as I can, either way I lose a lot of money but it would destroy the oil industry and those who depend on it. You of course have to be prepared and willing to suffer.. China is also loaning Venezuela $20 bil to tidy them over the short term. Russia and Iran can survive on low oil prices, but the middle east and even the US/UK cant.. They still think they have the upper hand. Wait until prices go much lower and for longer.. Russia is also cutting benefits in its budget and preparing for an extended period. Saudi Arabia thinks its all their doing…. The Arabs are slow anyway.. How else could the Europeans have hoodwinked them for thousands of years? Everyone thinks they are the worst. In essence they are very naive and carefree.. Like the native American Indians. Dont let the few arrogant ones fool you.
“Decisions should be made in Moscow and not in Washington or Brussels”
Eloquent, beautiful response to RAPA (Russian Aggression Prevention Act). George Soros had better keep his Pussy Riot offal away. More flogging cannot be ruled out. May the Corporate Media rage and fume!
Russia *can* let Europe and Ukrainians freeze, but *won’t* because they are not uncivilized brutes. They are just re-arranging their pipelines and giving Europe plenty of time to meet them half way for the sake of Europeans’ own self-interest. That is very civilized and business like. It’s Europe’s move next.
It can be seen that Putin is doing his level best to defuse world war 3, and people around the world who recognize this are deeply grateful to him for his wisdom and patience. Of course, the empire of chaos will hate him even more, but what can you do. Putin will just have to “flush the mental toilet” to expel all that hate and vitriol. There’s nothing like a fresh bowl to lift the spirits.
boris johnson is a loose cannon who should not be London’s mayor, he has got SFB and would simply implode in a real crisis. He wants to build an airport in the Thames estuary, costing £tens of billions, only one (of many) small problems: there is a sunken ship with nearly 3000 tons of explosives on board (from WW2). Put that in your pipe boris, and smoke it! Besides, he was born in NY and is a jew – like the warmongering camoron who cares NOTHING for the people in the Donbas* – with turkish blood too.
*The British Government has told the twinned city of Gorlovka – Barnsley – to STFU about saying anything regarding it.
Wayoutwest. You sound very much like a CNN correspondent? From where do you receive your information?
Bullshit!! The entire French nation is on the verge of collapse. Greece, Italy and the frogs. The worst economic situations in the Empire. Are you proud of that? Are you froggies proud that your leaders are boot lickers?
Daily Mail STILL has an article up saying there has been an actual cutoff due to Ukraine siphoning. It’s dated Jan 16, 2015.
I guess their earlier article is where Zero Hedge got it from.
Alien Tech said…@ 15 January, 2015 16:39
“1998”
A very good year. But perhaps you forgot something from your list?
Anonymous 15 January, 2015 06:22
“What’s next?”
Almost immediately after your post, a new run on the Hrivna.
Paul Craig Roberts interview 20 min http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2015/01/insider-reveals-collapse-timeline-3092518.html
in case you missed it.
Auschwitz was liberated by a ukranian Bataillon. The Pipelines for China arent build yet and the deal with China concerns entirely different gas fields.
Well it certainly looks like Dimitry Orlov was right when he said eventually the Russians will tell you “Go to Hell”
Mind you they have done so nicely by giving them time to build a pipeline to replace the Ukraine ones operating now. They better hurry though.
What can I say except well done Russia.
It is always a good thing when a bully gets pushed back.
Cheers
KamNam
aushwitz non è stata liberata dai russi.
studia la storia somaro di un saker
this Report is not True , its only been 2 months since Turkey and Russia signed the deal it takes longer than that just to engineer a gas pipeline , not to mention everything else that goes into construction , logistics etc. also i doubt very much that Russia is in a place to for go sales of gas to one of its largest customers in the economic environment that Russia currently finds itself in , this is simply not how the world works