Russia suspends gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria for failing to pay in rouble

[Nerdy doctor]

Russia has carried out its threat to shut off gas supplies to countries that has refused to pay in roubles. It has cut off gas supply delivery to both Poland and Bulgaria. I had earlier mentioned that Russia had threatened to shut off gas supplies to countries that has refused to pay in roubles and now, it has made good its threat by shutting off gas delivery to both Poland and Bulgaria. The EU has responded saying this is gas blackmail while gas prices has increased by 20%. Russia says the move is in response to both countries refusing to pay in roubles while the roubles gains about a percent to the dollar.

[1715102318]

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[_act_]

Russian energy giant Gazprom cutoff gas supply to Poland and Bulgary because they did not pay in Ruobles. According to what I have read on news, Poland will later not rely on Russia gas, but imminent action is needed for now. By next year, a new pipeline will be available to import gas directly from Norway to poland which will effectively replace the Russia gas. I understand this time could be a hard time because Poland import 53% of its gas even in this 2022 first quarter, it reduced from last year 61%. Actions are taken in a way they will not depend on Russia gas any longer by next year. Also Poland as been reducing its Russia dependency as it has been taking supply from Qatar than before in the past year for not to depend more on Russia. Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said his country and Greece will continue to work together on energy security and diversification. We hope that would be fruitful towards not depending on Russia supply.

Summer is already approaching, demand for gases will be reduced. Polish energy provider said polish underground gas is 80% full. Russia is only isolating itself in a way Europe will not later depend on its supply, though EU are working towards that already.

[NeuroticFish]

It will get interesting to watch how the politics will be developing now.
From what I've read, Serbia and Hungary, both cheering for Putin, get supplied through pipes passing through Bulgaria.
While Greece, although using Russian gas, offered help to Bulgaria, I've heard nothing from Serbia nor Hungary. I'd expect Bulgaria close down that traffic, it would be simply normal.

[Z-tight]

Now this is the political and economic side of the war, as the physical battle rages on Russia wants to strenghten their currency and economic situation by forcing other countries in Europe to pay for their natural gas in rubles or face a cut-off. The situation is a difficult one for European countries dependent on Russian gas, are they going to pay for gas in Rubles and indirectly strengthen the Russian currency and economy, or face the consequences of a cut-off. In as much as one can say these countries would find other alternatives to Russian natural gas, but if that is to be possible it will be in the long run and if supplies are cut now then there would be gas rationing which will lead to scarcity for a long time and that is why the EU calls this move from Russia a blackmail. Op you did not put the link for people that are yet to see this development: https://www.reuters.com/world/poland-bulgaria-face-russian-gas-cut-ukraine-crisis-escalates-2022-04-26/

[Flexystar]

It will get interesting to watch how the politics will be developing now.
From what I've read, Serbia and Hungary, both cheering for Putin, get supplied through pipes passing through Bulgaria.
While Greece, although using Russian gas, offered help to Bulgaria, I've heard nothing from Serbia nor Hungary. I'd expect Bulgaria close down that traffic, it would be simply normal.

Let’s not forget Putin is going crazy day by day and these things could really go in wrong direction and up to the extent that Putin is sending biohazards through those Gas Pipeline to win the war.

You guys following me? The war is dangerous now and it’s more than 55 days of war. What if Putin go nuts with such harmful plan?

Doable or not is the later part, but you have like full connection in two countries and modern days modern technique of wars.

[TheBeardedBaby]

There are pipes to be finished this summer and a gas from Turkey and Greece will flow to Bulgaria.
It  has been working effectively on these projects since 2019, luckily they could be finished this summer.

Now since the Russian gas will continue flow trough Bulgaria, the Russians have to pay for the transit. How this will be settled is not know yet. The Bulgarian PM is about to travel to Kiev to discuss the military aid, so I guess that's why everything is happening now.

[fiulpro]

Russia is trying on sneaky ways to get to the bottom of this and the worst thing is, if the country is underdeveloped or developing they are ofc going to listen to the demands of Russia which would mean that they would have to bear the criticism from the entire world after this but their government won't be able to balance out the inflation and the rising prices as well therefore for some of them there is absolutely no way out, they cannot pay in rubles and at the same time they cannot just cut Russia off just like that until and unless the supply is balanced and the green energy takes ages to come in the whole process and therefore it won't happen suddenly at all, they would have to wait years and this war cannot go on for that long.

There are pipes to be finished this summer and a gas from Turkey and Greece will flow to Bulgaria.
It  has been working effectively on these projects since 2019, luckily they could be finished this summer.

Now since the Russian gas will continue flow trough Bulgaria, the Russians have to pay for the transit. How this will be settled is not know yet. The Bulgarian PM is about to travel to Kiev to discuss the military aid, so I guess that's why everything is happening now.

They are trying to be offensive towards the countries supporting Ukraine in other ways an insight into why there are some countries off the list and being neutral. I do think they should already realize that their military is weak now and at the same time they cannot destroy their whole economy as well, they would starve internally now with the widows only getting over a 130$ this is not even ideal for them let alone the world.

[jrrsparkles]

Just an initiative or warning sign for other countries from Russia so they will prepare themselves to pay in Rubles or bring other way of payment because they need gas in some way. This is the politics and everyone has to back then now on their own because every countries has their own problems so it is the new ear of world political game in my opinion.

[TheCoinGrabber]

Summer can't come soon enough don't it? Poland and Bulgaria are probably easier to bully but would Russia pull this on Germany?

There are pipes to be finished this summer and a gas from Turkey and Greece will flow to Bulgaria.
It  has been working effectively on these projects since 2019, luckily they could be finished this summer.

Now since the Russian gas will continue flow trough Bulgaria, the Russians have to pay for the transit. How this will be settled is not know yet. The Bulgarian PM is about to travel to Kiev to discuss the military aid, so I guess that's why everything is happening now.

Good that Bulgaria at least have that option. I suppose the Bulgarians can get some discount from Russia for allowing the fuel through. That way they can draw fuel from multiple sources.

[Upgrade00]

Majority of European countries already have wheels in motion to cut of their dependency on Russian Gas and oil within the coming months and years, so it is somewhat a logical approach for Russia to try and use it fully to their advantage now, this seems to me like a simplified version of the politics Russia is playing.

Would be interesting to see the response from Poland and Bulgaria and the rest of the West, Paying Russia in rubles would make sanctions less effective and strengthen their local currency, not paying them, those countries face a severe crisis which would affect their economy.

[naira]

There is no relief that Russia really wants to show its fangs of power with gas capital. Until now, countries have been lobbying even though they have not been able to take shortcuts. The suspension will remain in effect for any country that does not wish to use the Ruobles. As a result, overlapping gas supplies are hampered, making several countries think for a moment between giving up and following Putin rules for the sake of sustaining gas consumption that has become dependent or looking for other alternatives as alternatives. This will be very bad for the economic stability of a country that really cannot have other alternatives.

[TheBeardedBaby]

Summer can't come soon enough don't it?

According to the government information, we have reserves for 90 days (based on the winte rconsumption rates) so this scenario was expected after the expulsion of a dozen of Russian citizens conspiring against our country and spying for Russia.We were one of the first countries to colse our airspace for Russian airplanes so we were havely criticised  for those actions and there were many threads from the Russian side. It was just a matter of time that to happen.

[kryptqnick]

This is a great example of how Russia assists the Western sanctions. The EU is reluctant to impose a gas embargo? No problem, we'll just make such demands that at least some EU countries will effectively not get our gas. The more bossy Russia gets, the more losses it suffers from.

It will get interesting to watch how the politics will be developing now.
From what I've read, Serbia and Hungary, both cheering for Putin, get supplied through pipes passing through Bulgaria.
While Greece, although using Russian gas, offered help to Bulgaria, I've heard nothing from Serbia nor Hungary. I'd expect Bulgaria close down that traffic, it would be simply normal.

There are separate contracts for gas transit, I believe, so I don't think it's likely that Bulgaria will stop being a transit country for gas that's moving to other countries. Ukraine, for example, even though being very anti-Russia right now, is, at least as of March 21 (maybe it changed, I couldn't find info on that), is piping Russian gas to Europe to fulfil its contract obligations with the European countries (or so it seems).

[avikz]

Russia has carried out its threat to shut off gas supplies to countries that has refused to pay in roubles. It has cut off gas supply delivery to both Poland and Bulgaria. I had earlier mentioned that Russia had threatened to shut off gas supplies to countries that has refused to pay in roubles and now, it has made good its threat by shutting off gas delivery to both Poland and Bulgaria. The EU has responded saying this is gas blackmail while gas prices has increased by 20%. Russia says the move is in response to both countries refusing to pay in roubles while the roubles gains about a percent to the dollar.

Lol! That becomes interesting now! I laughed my ass out when I saw US and UK both imposed sanctions on Russia over its war against Ukraine. Because these two countries are responsible for most numbers of human rights violations in the entire history of mankind.

And now when Russia cuts of gas supply to two insignificant nations, EU started crying. Lol! Too much dollar dominance must be broken at all costs. Russia is playing right!

[marine4u]

In terms of pure motives, this is completely understandable.  No one denied the power they had in oil and gas, they needed to untie the ropes tied to the rocks to minimize the extent of the sinking.  They may accept bitcoin as an alternative to the ruble, but it would be better to strengthen their native currency.

I think Putin is still the knifeman in this regard.  Winter is coming and the initiative is in their hands.  I expect the US and EU response to this scenario and I think the symptoms can last longer and there is no exception in the European countries.

[Fortify]

Russia has carried out its threat to shut off gas supplies to countries that has refused to pay in roubles. It has cut off gas supply delivery to both Poland and Bulgaria. I had earlier mentioned that Russia had threatened to shut off gas supplies to countries that has refused to pay in roubles and now, it has made good its threat by shutting off gas delivery to both Poland and Bulgaria. The EU has responded saying this is gas blackmail while gas prices has increased by 20%. Russia says the move is in response to both countries refusing to pay in roubles while the roubles gains about a percent to the dollar.

The whole of the EU has refused to pay in Roubles (except Hungary who will start in over a month's time), so Russia has specifically picked two countries instead of refusing payments from all countries. It's typical manipulative and hypocritical behavior out of the Russian government which just cements their reputation further as an entity that cannot be relied upon to engage in mutually beneficial trade. The sooner Europe is free from their oil and gas, the stronger Europe will become and the more subservient to China the extremely weakened Russia will become. Not only has Russia's army been crippled by this totally unnecessary and destructive war on Ukraine, but Putin is set on further destroying their economy - all Russian's will be left much poorer because of their leader who always sits in his luxurious palaces.

[Gyfts]

Poland is taking in Ukrainian refugees and were ready to provide jets to Ukraine if the U.S. were to swap out any military equipment they donated (the deal ended up falling through, though). To the extent Poland plays a role in geopolitics with Ukraine as a border country, Russia seems to be willing to sacrifice whatever business they were doing with Poland in order to punish them for assisting Ukraine. I don't recall what miniscule amount of energy production relies on raw materials supplied from Russia, but I don't imagine there are a lack of suppliers. Logistics and infrastructure are the issues, and Russia knows that.

[Hydrogen]

Putin announced gas must be purchased in rubles (didn't I later read somewhere that this was a hoax demand by Putin). It seems Putin follows through on his promises.

Could people lose faith in the european union if it fails to negotiate with russia and provide its states with protection? The EU is in a difficult situation being geographically located near to russia and china while attempting to maintain friendly relations with both.

Is there anyone who will step in to fill the vacuum and provide poland and bulgaria with alternatives? I think Elon Musk might do it if he hadn't already spent $40 billion on twitter. How much would it cost for europeans to develop alternatives to russian gas?

[Darker45]

This certainly must have harrowing effects on both Poland and Bulgaria. However, I don't believe both countries were not bracing themselves for this possibility. In the first place, that they remain adamant not to pay in rubles means they could survive without Russian gas. On the other hand, Russia is only expediting the process of European countries' weaning themselves from Russian gas supply. In so doing, not only is Russia isolating itself more and more, it also losses leverage. This counter sanction has its return damage.

[adaseb]

So is the gas shut off or not. Basically getting conflicting info. Yesterday there was news it was shut off and then hours later there was confirmation that it’s back on. And today it’s in the news again that it’s shut off. So is the news lagging what is happening in real time?

Looking at the USDRUB chart you can see that many people are buying Rubles to pay for the gas it seems. It’s gaining value very quick according to the chart. Very volatile forex pair recently.