Russias gas blackmail on Nato counties

Russia’s halt on gas on NATO countries
Summary
“Russia begins ‘gas blackmail’ of Poland and Bulgaria ahead of UK
call to boost Ukraine military aid” – The Guardian; Daniel Boffey
❏ Boffeys article highlights Russia’s determination to reduce sanctions leveled
against it by European countries (EU) by threatening to cut down gas supplies.
❏ The decision to halt supply followed Poland’s announcement on Tuesday
that it was imposing sanctions including Russia’s biggest gas company
Gazprom – over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
❏ Gas supplies were halted in Poland April 20th
❏ Bulgaria’s said it had been told that supplies of Russian gas via the
TurkStream pipeline would also cease on Wednesday.
❏
❏ Russia currently supplies about 55% of Poland’s annual demand and 90% to
Bulgaria
“Russia halts gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria. Why does
it matter?” – NBC News; Yulyia Talmazan
❏ According to Gazprom, a leading gas distributor in Russia, the move to
halt gas distribution was motivated by the refusal gas in rubles as
opposed to dollars or euros.
❏ This move is expected to dramatically escalate Russia’s goal to weaken
Ukraine’s allies that had collectively resolved to help the country deal
with its war with Russia.
Missing Key Facts
– The Guardian; Daniel Boffey
❏ Boffey’s article has not highlighted details about the
European countries’ capability to survive without the
Russian gas.
❏ Second, the author did not indicate that Russian action
will also affect their economy negatively.
❏ Boffey’s article also did not specify that some
countries other than Poland have made substantive
plans to cut gas supplies from Russia.
,
– NBC News; Yulyia Talmazan
❏ One piece of information lacking in Talmazan’s article
is the impact of a halt in gas supplies in Poland and
Bulgaria on overall gas prices in Europe.
❏ Gas prices in Europe have increased by
approximately 20%, with reports indicating a
more than six times price increase over the last
year
❏ The article does not identify other European countries
that highly depend on Russia’s gas. Such countries
include Hungary, Austria, Moldova, Serbia, the Czech
Republic, and Slovakia
Important Frames
– The Guardian; Daniel Boffey
❏ Russian gas blackmail –
pressure ukrainian allies to stop aid to ukraine as well as
stop interfering in the war leverage
❏ energy resources are a weaponeconomic war against rest of europe, weaken europe’s
economy at the expense of the war in order to seize ukraine
– NBC News; Yulyia Talmazan
❏ Russian monopoly on gas in EuropeRussia is the worlds largest producers of petroleum and natural gas, in
2021 the EU imported 155bln cubic meters of natural gas from russia,
around 45% of EU gas imports and almost 40% of total gas around the
world
question of whether Europe and its high dependency on Russian energy is
prepared for the gas cuts and related consequences.
❏ Sanctions against russiafight back against wests growing military support for Ukraine and
sanctions that have cut off russia financially from the rest of the world
Sources used and not used
– The Guardian; Daniel Boffey
❏ The article quoted speeches from Poland, Bulgaria, and
German leaders.
❏ The article also relied on data that had been published in
other prior news articles in the same newspaper.
❏ Other sources of data that should’ve been included were
peer reviewed articles or interviews with government
officials to see their capability of succeeding without
relying on Russian gas.
– NBC News; Yulyia Talmazan
❏ Talmazan’s story mainly relied on first-hand information
and detailed communications made by the different
stakeholders mentioned in the article, including the Russian
president and Gazprom.
❏ The story mostly relied on primary data. Other sources that
could have been used but were not include peer-reviewed
articles and direct observation, including interviews with
leaders in Bulgaria and Poland.
Bias
– The Guardian; Daniel Boffey
❏ The story in Boffey’s article was slightly biased. The title,
facts, and the language adopted suggested that the Russian
blackmail of gas cut down will succeed against the
European countries.
❏ In addition, the author highlighted a few countries in
Europe that relied heavily on Russian gas to further their
biased position
– NBC News; Yulyia Talmazan
❏ The article is biased it leans heavily on Russia as the
leading cause of the problem. It portrays other countries
such as Bulgaria and Poland, coupled with the entire
European region, as the victims of Russia’s move to cut gas
supply.
❏ From the article, Russia seems to be taking advantage of
the EU’s heavy reliance on its gas supply to weaken the
West’s support of Ukraine, a move that would help win the
war.
Article Recommendations
– The Guardian; Daniel Boffey
❏ The author should have balanced facts that supported the
Russian and Ukraine position. They should have focused on
why Russia might fail and also succeed in their use of gas
supply cut down.
❏ That way, the reader will take their position based on facts
rather than the position taken by the author.
– NBC News; Yulyia Talmazan
❏ Talmazan should have given equal coverage to all the
countries, individuals, and entities involved in the scenario.
Rather than focusing solely on Russia’s decision, she should
have given adequate attention to Poland’s and Bulgaria’s
role in the problem.
❏ Statements by the two countries’ presidents and secondary
research, including peer-reviewed journals, would have
provided adequate information.
Sources
Boffey, B. (2022, April 26). Russia begins ‘gas blackmail’ of Poland and Bulgaria ahead of UK call to boost
Ukraine military aid. Retrieved from
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/26/russia-to-halt-gas-supply-to-poland-government-told
Talmazan, Y. (2022, April 27). Russia halts gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria. Why does it matter? Retrieved from
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-halts-gas-supplies-poland-bulgaria-matter-rcna26198