Gas dispute: Putin's wedge in the EU

Created: 07/22/2022, 08:11

By: Sebastian Horsch

Sebastian Horsch comments on the gas dispute with Vladimir Putin.

© ITAR-TASS/Imago/Klaus Hass/merkur.de-Montage

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline has served an important purpose for the Kremlin even before its completion.

A comment by Sebastian Horsch.

Munich - It's running again.

Putin turned on the gas tap after all.

Exactly so far, at least, that he can continue to torment the EU and Germany in particular with threats to turn off in the coming months.

In this way he wants to wear down Europe and break up the solidarity of the West.

The first cracks cannot be denied.

The EU would like its members to help each other out with gas in the event of acute shortages in winter.

However, when it comes to gas junkie Germany, not everyone is willing to do so.

Gas dispute with Putin: Warsaw has scores to settle with Berlin

There are agreements with Denmark, Austria and (probably soon) the Czech Republic – but the demand could hardly be covered in an emergency.

And the possible further partner Poland makes it clear that he has little desire to bail out the Germans now, who themselves never gave a damn about the Polish warnings about the dangers of the Nord Stream pipelines.

Warsaw is demanding an apology – and new World War II reparations.

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Of course, behind these statements by the Polish PiS government is the almost obligatory attempt to get money out of it where possible.

But at the same time old scores are settled here with pleasure.

This shows that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline served an important purpose for the Kremlin even before its completion.

With her, Putin drove a wedge into the EU.

The coming months will show how deep this wedge is.