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Elessar · 26-30, M
Europe is "discussing gas" because there's a critical dependency on it. It's not that it can build a pipeline and get supplied overnight from another seller.
Reserves here will cover us until October, then what? All the industries that depend on methane simply shut down, a massive recession that will make COVID look like a walk in the park ensues *worldwide*, people start dying here too (from the cold) as soon as winter hits, and ultimately, an unnecessary attempt (as they're already set to default within the month with the current sanctions alone *1) to harm Putin further ends up paradoxically aiding him the moment his cronies (Le Pen, Salvini et al) get voted in due to outrage against the current administrations, with the promise we'll get back to heated homes and a functioning economy once they'll have lifted any Russian sanction.
You may complain against Merkel and Sarkozy if you want, who evidently thought that partnering with Russia for fuel supplies would've kept it from biting the hand that fed them, but I doubt that would sort any effect either.
*1: https://www.reuters.com/business/sp-cuts-russias-foreign-currency-rating-selective-default-2022-04-09/
That said, of course that's abhorrent and if there was a way to get rid of Russian imports whatsoever in the shortest time frame it should be considered, but it's extremely easy here to make a mistake and flip the whole situation at Russia/China advantage.
Reserves here will cover us until October, then what? All the industries that depend on methane simply shut down, a massive recession that will make COVID look like a walk in the park ensues *worldwide*, people start dying here too (from the cold) as soon as winter hits, and ultimately, an unnecessary attempt (as they're already set to default within the month with the current sanctions alone *1) to harm Putin further ends up paradoxically aiding him the moment his cronies (Le Pen, Salvini et al) get voted in due to outrage against the current administrations, with the promise we'll get back to heated homes and a functioning economy once they'll have lifted any Russian sanction.
You may complain against Merkel and Sarkozy if you want, who evidently thought that partnering with Russia for fuel supplies would've kept it from biting the hand that fed them, but I doubt that would sort any effect either.
*1: https://www.reuters.com/business/sp-cuts-russias-foreign-currency-rating-selective-default-2022-04-09/
That said, of course that's abhorrent and if there was a way to get rid of Russian imports whatsoever in the shortest time frame it should be considered, but it's extremely easy here to make a mistake and flip the whole situation at Russia/China advantage.