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> We cannot afford a war, it'd make the COVID crisis seem trivial. If Germans really want to avoid war they should start by clearly saying that the NordStream

> We cannot afford a war, it'd make the COVID crisis seem trivial. If Germans really want to avoid war they should start by clearly saying that the NordStream 2 pipeline project will be cancelled and the permits revoked the same day that Russia either realizes the threat of mass invasion. The rest of Europe is pretty united in this matter. I worry mostly about Germany when it comes to things like sanction votes in the EU.

ivan_gammel 5y ago
Mrs Baerbock absolutely wants to weaponize Nord Stream 2 this way, but it is unlikely to happen if operator of the pipeline will fulfill the regulatory requirements. Anyway there are ways to create a lot of pain for Russia without touching gas topic.
- alkonaut 5y ago
  There are few good ones. Oil would be a much better one of course (because less painful for the west while more painful for russia). I don't believe any (further) economic sanctions like SWIFT would help much tbh. The thing about the Gas thing that it's not only economic, it's a sword that Russia has dangling over a part of continental Europe too. I think they fear losing that more than the income. And the Gas dependency is going away. Perhaps it's worth ripping off the bandaid. It's only Germany and parts of eastern/central europe that still heats up with gas right (Asking from Northern Europe where I don't think we ever did ).
  - twelve40 5y ago
    > sword that Russia has dangling over a part of continental Europe Ah, those mean Russians, force-feeding the poor Europe their poisonous gas. Reminder: the Western European countries voluntarily entered into this relationship and have been buying the gas for many decades. They are absolutely free to buy their energy from anywhere else in the world. Case in point, that's how France currently gets 25% of their natgas and they have been happily living with this "dangling sword" for 45 years, why would they do that?

ivan_gammel 5y ago

Mrs Baerbock absolutely wants to weaponize Nord Stream 2 this way, but it is unlikely to happen if operator of the pipeline will fulfill the regulatory requirements. Anyway there are ways to create a lot of pain for Russia without touching gas topic.

alkonaut 5y ago
There are few good ones. Oil would be a much better one of course (because less painful for the west while more painful for russia). I don't believe any (further) economic sanctions like SWIFT would help much tbh. The thing about the Gas thing that it's not only economic, it's a sword that Russia has dangling over a part of continental Europe too. I think they fear losing that more than the income. And the Gas dependency is going away. Perhaps it's worth ripping off the bandaid. It's only Germany and parts of eastern/central europe that still heats up with gas right (Asking from Northern Europe where I don't think we ever did ).
- twelve40 5y ago
  > sword that Russia has dangling over a part of continental Europe Ah, those mean Russians, force-feeding the poor Europe their poisonous gas. Reminder: the Western European countries voluntarily entered into this relationship and have been buying the gas for many decades. They are absolutely free to buy their energy from anywhere else in the world. Case in point, that's how France currently gets 25% of their natgas and they have been happily living with this "dangling sword" for 45 years, why would they do that?