Russia Monitor is a review of the most important events related to Russian internal and external security, as well as its foreign policies.
Date: 16 November 2021
Lukashenko Bluffing On EU Gas Threat
Floated by the Belarusian dictator, the possibility to halt gas transit into Poland and Germany amid fresh EU sanctions is part of the game Minsk and Moscow are playing against a background of the EU-Belarus border crisis. Contrary to what the Kremlin claims, it is hard to believe that Alexander Lukashenko would threaten to retaliate against any new European Union sanctions by shutting down the transit of natural gas via Belarus without the Kremlin’s knowledge. It is all the more so that a new component of Lukashenko’s aggressive policy towards the EU may fit into the Russian gas strategy.
On November 11, Alexander Lukashenko raised the prospect of cutting gas supplies to the European Union through the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline if Brussels imposes new sanctions against his regime. “This would be a violation of our transit contract and I hope it will not come to that,” Vladimir Putin said two days later. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists a day earlier that Lukashenko had not shared his plan to cut off gas transit into Europe with the Kremlin. Peter Stano, the EU’s lead spokesman for external affairs, said that Lukashenko’s effort to halt gas transit through Europe would harm Russia’s interest––something the Belarusian strongman would like to avoid. The EU diplomat considered that accepting Lukashenko’s threats literally only contributed to the dissemination of the false narrative of the Belarusian dictator. But many see Lukashenko’s threat as a “gas bluff.” Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also dismissed Lukashenko’s threat, saying to cut gas supplies would cause more damage to him than to the European Union. But Russia is the key factor here. The Belarusian section of the Yamal-Europe pipeline is operated by Russia. Moscow is sending gas to Belarus while Lukashenko cannot make any move to cut gas or threaten the European Union without Moscow’s knowledge. Why is this gas blackmail working out well for Russia? It fits into the Kremlin’s strategy to force the European Union into concessions for Nord Stream 2. The European Union is now facing gas shortages amid Gazprom’s deliberate strategy while cutting off gas transit through Ukraine could exacerbate the crisis. Lukashenko’s threats are actually those from the Kremlin.
Support Us
If content prepared by Warsaw Institute team is useful for you, please support our actions. Donations from private persons are necessary for the continuation of our mission.
All texts published by the Warsaw Institute Foundation may be disseminated on the condition that their origin is credited. Images may not be used without permission.
Related posts
Warsaw Institute
