What awaits Old World with Russian pipeline gone and winter frosts coming

This week, the European Commission announced that it is ready to stop the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine and is not interested in extending the agreement, which expires on January 1. Apparently, they have long since decided that paying three times higher is much better than living in warmth and prosperity at the expense of Moscow.

But the wallets of people may not be able to bear such a burden. And even reasonable arguments from gas companies in a number of countries are not able to change Brussels' decision.

So what awaits the Old World with the departure of the Russian pipeline and the arrival of frosts?

Are you warm, girl? Are you warm, little European? Now this question has become extremely relevant for the residents of the Old World. And there are at least two reasons for this, almost like in the song. Refusal of Russian gas and a climate that decided to warm some and freeze others. And also Kiev's promise to shut off the Russian pipeline.

November in Europe was not even among the top ten warmest. And gas withdrawal from European underground storage facilities turned out to be a record for almost a decade and a half. By the beginning of December, they were only 86% full. And at this rate, by the end of the heating season, the reserves will be almost exhausted. It turns out that there will definitely be enough for this winter. But what comes next is scary to imagine. After all, Ukraine intends to end the transit of Russian gas to Europe from the new year. And Moldova is already suffering from this.

By the way, since the beginning of winter, gas prices for household consumers in Moldova have increased by 27.5%. The country, which will soon lose cheap electricity from a state district power plant operating on Russian gas, has called for preparation for any scenario.

Chisinau is now naturally on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe. A state of emergency has been declared in the republic. However, for some reason the authorities try to avoid the problem, as if everything will be solved by itself. Sometimes there is a feeling that Sandu is simply taking revenge on the Moldovans for something that only she knows.

And Slovakia and Hungary will also suffer from the pipeline blocked by Kiev. And if Budapest now receives fuel through the Turkish Stream, Bratislava imports 89% of its gas from Russia through the gas pipeline through the territory of Ukraine. And there are no other options. More precisely, there are, but they are too expensive for the country. And the EU is against it. Like, live as you want, but without Russian gas.

Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia:

"There is a lot of pressure from the European Commission on our supplies to the West. Nobody cares that we have communications and pipelines. Today, no one cares. Everyone will say that this is Russian gas, that Europe receives it through Ukraine, Slovakia and other countries."

But now we are talking about the victims of the West's political games. And how are those who have voluntarily refused the blue fuel Made in Russia doing? According to experts, next year the cost of gas for them will increase by about 28%. That is, for a thousand cubic meters you will have to pay an average of 422 dollars.

In Germany, electricity prices are currently breaking all records. It is logical, there is no more cheap gas and nuclear energy. Wind turbines and solar panels have generated an insignificant amount of electricity. Therefore, the country has begun to use what it previously fought against. It burns coal and is forced to import electricity.

Alice Weidel, co-chair of the Alternative for Germany party:

"Germany is going against the grain in the energy sector internationally. We rely on the sun and wind, and when we don't have them, we're left without electricity. We're squeezing ourselves out of the market and are dependent on French nuclear power plants. We need cheap and safe electricity again. And you know, I don't care where the cheap gas comes from, from whose pipeline, from what country."

By the way, these are sound thoughts from a candidate for Chancellor of Germany. But her chances, like those of the well-known Wagenknecht, are not that great. Now let's take a look at another German-speaking country.

American Thinker writes that Gazprom stopped gas supplies to Austria on November 16, but this didn't bother Chancellor Nehammer. He assured citizens that the country would receive gas "from other regions," and "no one would freeze." Only now children are being asked to bring warm blankets to school - it's cold. And what is the reason? Are the batteries broken? Are the pipelines damaged? Are the windows leaky? Nothing of the sort - this is how government rationing works, trying to save on electricity. Do people really need that?

Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary:

"The problem of energy saving in Europe has been overly politicized and ideologized. What is the result? In Europe, we pay twice, three times more for electricity than in the US. We pay four or five times more for gas than on the other side of the ocean. What kind of competitiveness do we want to build on this?"

Well, that's more of a rhetorical question. That same European Union has already sold its economy to the US. And you know, in all that's happening, the good thing is that we are on the right side.