The Czech magazine Literarni Noviny has recently echoed an earlier headline in the US weekly magazine Newsweek: “Forget Ukraine. It’s Business As Usual Between Europe and Russia”.
As it turns, the major point of concern is not Ukraine, nor the ongoing military conflict on its territory, but rather fear of being left out in the cold by not participating in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project.
The magazine laments that the expanded project will now allow Russia to deliver gas directly to Germany, bypassing Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. Meanwhile the Nord Stream operates the other way around, going first through Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
“They are making idiots of us,” he then complained.
Meanwhile, it is Slovakia that provides reserve gas flows to Ukraine, vowing to help Kiev decrease its dependence on Gazprom, which is regarded by Russia as an “illegal” practice.
Polish President Andrzej Duda has also issued strong statements against the deal between Gazprom and the Western firms, saying it ignores Polish interests, and, as rightfully noted by the Czech magazine, “hence American” interests.
Interestingly enough, despite accusing Germany, France and Austria of not caring about Ukraine but mostly pursuing their own interests, the three Eastern European countries aren't particularly concerned about Kiev.
It is just a pretext for bargaining for more in the gas business.
