Surprisingly…
Energy expert Jilles van den Beukel of The Hague Center for Strategic Studies finds this step surprising. “Putin is breaking a long-term contract with this.” That has not happened until now, because, despite everything, Russia wanted to be seen as a reliable supplier.
For the European market as a whole, this means that the market will shrink further and gas prices will rise again, says Van den Beukel. This makes it potentially lucrative for Russia to close countries, as more gas can be sold to others.
…and stupid
But that is not wise, according to the energy company. “Tactically, it is a useful decision in the short term, but it reinforces the determination of European countries to distance themselves from Russian energy,” he said.
For example, if Russia decides to cut off gas supplies to Germany or Italy, it will happen very quickly. In the short term, gas would then become incredibly expensive, but after that, Europe quickly deviates from Russian gas and the Kremlin’s revenues dry up completely.
Does Putin want to go that far? Van den Beukel: “It seems logical: you better not do it, he shoots himself in the foot. But I don’t claim to be able to predict what he’s going to do,” concludes Van den Beukel.
Source: RTL
Smith Charles is a talented entertainment journalist and author at The Nation View. He has a passion for all things entertainment and writes about the latest movies, TV shows, music, and celebrity news. He’s known for his in-depth interviews with actors, musicians, and other industry figures, and his ability to provide unique perspectives on the entertainment industry.
