"Not Even Started Yet" Putin's Calculated Move Pressing the Calculator

IEA Secretary-General: "Europe Must Prepare for Russia Gas Supply Cutoff"

Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding a press conference immediately after the closing of the 6th Caspian Sea Coastal States Summit held in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, on the 29th (local time).

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Woo-seok] As Russia hints at the possibility of escalating the war with Ukraine and increases pressure on Ukraine and the West, Europe has begun preparing countermeasures against Russia's so-called 'energy retaliation' and other actions.

According to TASS news agency on the 7th (local time), Russian President Vladimir Putin took a hardline stance, stating, "The operation in Ukraine has not even really begun yet."

He raised his voice, saying, "I have heard several times that the West intends to fight us until all Ukrainians disappear. This is a tragedy for the Ukrainian people, but everything is moving in that direction."

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also reported that Russia is steadily advancing in eastern Ukraine, viewing this as leading to a prolonged war of attrition.

Germany is set to receive the Nord Stream 1 pipeline turbine back from Canada, drawing attention to whether Russia will take measures such as normalizing gas supply in the future.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Although Russia lost elite units and other forces due to bold advances in the early stages of the invasion, it has recently been using a slow advance tactic, achieving results such as capturing 75% of the entire Donbas region.

The U.S. Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also analyzed that Russia is preparing for a long-term war to fully conquer Ukraine.

Europe is concerned that if the war prolongs, the worst-case scenario could occur this winter, such as Russia completely cutting off natural gas supplies. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), said, "Europe must prepare for the possibility that Russia will completely stop gas supplies," adding, "As winter approaches, Russia's intentions will become clearer."

Russia is currently carrying out retaliatory measures such as limiting natural gas supplies to Europe in response to Western sanctions. Recently, it reduced the volume of gas supplied to Germany through the Nord Stream pipeline to about 40% of the previous level, and sharply cut gas supplies to other countries such as France and Italy.

In response, Europe is taking steps to prepare countermeasures. On the 7th, Bloomberg reported that the European Union (EU) will convene an emergency meeting regarding Russia's retaliatory reduction and cutoff of gas supplies to Europe in response to Western sanctions.

The emergency meeting scheduled for the 26th of this month will focus on reducing gas demand, expanding energy savings, and energy cooperation among EU member states.

Meanwhile, Germany has agreed to receive a Nord Stream pipeline turbine back from Canada on the 9th. Gazprom, the Russian state-owned gas company and the largest shareholder of Nord Stream AG, reduced the operating capacity of Nord Stream 1 last month, citing difficulties in normal pipeline operation due to the absence of the turbine. The Russian government promised the day before that once the turbine return is completed, it will increase gas supply to Europe again.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.