Russia's natural gas: Suddenly an embargo seems possible - Grüner gives German tip to "harm" Putin

Created: 07/03/2022 05:23

By: Kathrin Reikowski

Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) and Ludwig Hartmann (Die Grünen) in a TV duel (archive photo).

© Sven Hoppe/dpa

Should Germany initiate a gas embargo against Russia?

The debate is on - Finance Minister Lindner explains the consequences for the population.

Berlin - On the 11th day of the war in Ukraine, on which the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights confirmed at least 364 civilian deaths, the debate in Germany about an embargo, i.e. an import ban, against Russian gas intensified.

"I appeal to the federal government: we must stop Russian gas and oil imports now," said CDU foreign affairs expert Norbert Röttgen on the Ukraine conflict.

"Germany must pull out all economic stops to hit Putin's system as hard as possible from the inside and dry it out financially," writes Röttgen in a guest article for the

.

The sanctions include excluding the most important Russian banks - Sberbank and Gazprombank - from the Swift payment process.

A total of one billion euros in total income for energy exports to Russia ran through the financial institutions every day.

The new head of the Munich Security Conference made a similar statement: "With the way Putin is proceeding, we should now also consider an embargo on oil and gas supplies," said Christoph Heusgen on Sunday in the ARD "Europamagazin".

"Our country, the people who show a lot of solidarity with the Ukrainians, would support it if it got a bit colder in your living room." He sees no room for maneuver with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Oil embargo for Russia: US discusses options with European partners

The USA also seems to be turning away from its previous line.

Last week, the Biden government distanced itself from calls for an oil embargo.

Anthony Blinken, US Secretary of State, told CNN on Sunday: "Regarding Russian oil, I spoke to the President and cabinet members yesterday.

We are now turning to our European partners and allies to take a closer look at a coordinated phase-out of oil imports, while at the same time ensuring that there is an adequate supply of oil for the world market.” The US had better bid farewell to Russian oil, rather than giving Putin the power to raise gas and oil prices or shut off US supplies.

Blinken said there had to be a buffer, also from emergency reserves, until the supply of US oil started.

"Harms Putin" - Bavaria's Green faction leader Hartmann appeals to Germans

Meanwhile, Ludwig Hartmann, leader of the Greens parliamentary group in Bavaria, argues that energy policy is also security policy.

On Bayerischer Rundfunk he emphasized that Germany had to become more independent of Russia as an energy supplier.

Ludwig Hartmann (Greens) speaks.

© Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa/archive image

 "Anyone who saves energy now harms Putin."

Ludwig Hartmann, leader of the Greens in Bavaria

Specifically, he suggested turning down the heating in private households to 21 degrees and saving fuel when driving.

Damaging Vladimir Putin can also happen by reducing the speed, such as “120 instead of 180”.

"Every liter that we don't consume is missing from Putin's war chest," said Hartmann.

If Germany moves away from fossil fuels towards renewable energies, this will not only have advantages in the current war.

Oil would then no longer have to be obtained from other countries such as Saudi Arabia.

Tearing gas supply chains from Russia: Habeck (Greens) is worried about the next winter

"If the supply chains were to tear, the coming winter would be a challenge," said Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck on Sunday on ZDF.

"We'll be able to survive spring and summer well, but I'm still a little concerned about next winter." That's why they're even examining whether longer operation of the nuclear power plants in Germany would help.

"But as far as we can see, that's not the case," said Habeck, who emphasized that he was still in favor of phasing out nuclear energy.

Regarding coal power, Habeck said it was a way to "keep power plants on reserve" just in case.

But you shouldn't go any further.

"In reserve means they are kept, they are not scrapped, but they are no longer in operation." He emphasized that one must work towards becoming as independent as possible from fossil fuels.

"We have the other crisis that we mustn't forget," said Habeck, referring to the climate crisis.

Ukraine War: What Would an Embargo on Russian Gas Mean?

Lindner against tax breaks

broadcaster that an embargo would have direct consequences for the population

.

He knows the problems of people who cannot do without a car.

However, the federal government is currently not considering lowering taxes.

"What you can't do is think about an embargo and then hope that the state will cushion the consequences." to agree.

The state cannot distribute money that it does not have.

"I'm not in favor of us taking out a loan from our grandchildren for increased gas prices.

We all become poorer when the prices for raw materials rise, including the state, for example through higher social benefits that rise due to inflation, or through increasing investments," said Lindner.

"We will cushion socially and try to dampen, but there are limits." It is true that the state has more conversion tax revenue through higher fuel prices, but overall the state does not benefit from it.

"People also refrain from buying other things because of higher expenses, which also means that the state lacks tax revenue," says Lindner.

Economics Minister Robert Habeck recently presented plans for greater energy independence from Russia.

(

)