The European Union is discussing the introduction of a cap on Russian gas prices of 188 euros

There was speculation that French President Emmanuel Macron could negotiate gas supplies in Doha. Prior to this, the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited the sheikhs for the same purpose. And so, just today, the European Union met again to discuss the price ceiling for blue fuel from Russia. And, perhaps, for the first time sounded a specific figure – 188 euros. But not everything is so simple.

No one here asks “for whom the bell tolls”. It is obvious that in the European energy sector. And while it is collapsing, it is important for politicians to show “invincibility” and “unity” according to the Ukrainian scheme. There was a bundle waiting for everyone on the table. At first we thought it was a warm blanket. But no, a completely different themed gift. Sweater with the inscription: “we will hold as many energy meetings as necessary.”

“I firmly believe that we are close to a deal. Of course, it requires a very strong spirit of compromise from everyone”said European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson.

This is a very friendly meeting in the form, in fact, a fierce battle under the carpet. EU energy ministers have not been asked for a long time whether they want a price cap on gas. It is allowed to discuss only about his level. The most reckless – Eastern Europeans – shout that prices are needed lower, more adequate – Western and Central – want to slightly soften the terms of the ultimatum.

“Czech Republic proposes a cap of €188. France has said it wants a price between €260 and €200”– said the Minister of Energy Transition of France, Agnès Pannier-Runachet.

In any case, the initiative is unprecedented – an attempt to dictate the price of Russian gas. That is, the EU believes that they can cancel market relations if they are no longer beneficial to them. Moreover, the manipulations here are laid down even in the initial figures. For some reason, expenses are calculated in megawatts per hour.

For example, the Czech Republic wants to pay €188 for 1 MWh. But if translated into understandable “gas” figures, this means buying a thousand cubic meters for two thousand euros. But the European Commission is ready for more – €275 per 1 MWh, which is about three thousand euros per thousand cubic meters. It is better for ordinary Europeans not to know such prices.

“Relieve social tension in Europe. That’s what they are doing now. An attempt to put a ceiling will cause prices to skyrocket in Europe”, – stressed Andrey Koshkin, political scientist, head of the Department of Political Science and Sociology of the Russian University of Economics. G.V. Plekhanov.

Then what are the EU counting on? Fuel price cap ideologues are clearly waiting for the plan to work. This is not the first time that the West has achieved favorable conditions through political blackmail. And that’s exactly blackmail. So, for example, allegations of corruption in the selection of Qatar as the host city of the World Cup may also be part of the scheme. OPEC countries are not immune to pressure.

“They understand that if now this tool is successfully tested in Russia, then tomorrow there will be claims against them. They will say: but your human rights are being violated there or something else. Therefore, we are canceling market relations for you.”– explained Igor Yushkov, a leading analyst at the National Energy Security Fund, an expert at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation.

But, apparently, the effect will be different. The EU will agree on a ceiling, stop receiving relatively cheap resources. They will blame our country for everything, and they will run to the USA for fuel, and there they will pay exorbitant prices. Well, how can we stop them from going bankrupt? In an exclusive interview “Izvestia” The Minister of Energy of Russia said: so far we are watching with interest.

“Well, there is no ceiling – we will get a ceiling, we will think. We are now more engaged in waiting for the decree” price cap “for oil”– said the Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Nikolai Shulginov.

Ahead are long and difficult disputes of Europeans about prices, in which, perhaps, there will be no winners. The most thoughtful of them hastened to distance themselves from today’s decision in advance. The head of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry said: the ceiling is the ceiling, and long-term contracts by Russia are long-term contracts.