PREFACE/ISSUE
Since beginning the United Kingdom has expressed serious concerns about the Nord Stream 1, 2 gas pipelines.
The UK has heavily criticized these projects, which are largely supported by Germany, due to concerns about its impact on European energy security and geopolitical tensions with Russia.
HYPHOTESIS:
Government officials, politicians, and civil servants are responsible for carrying out the sabotage as representatives of the state. The UK has been identified as a prime suspect, looking at statements and policies could help define if the UK was involved.
"How long and deep is the rabbit hole Alice?"
Although the UK imports only a small amount of gas directly from Russia, the UK has a vested interest in European energy security, the interests of Ukraine and the effect of Russian actions more broadly.
I. Britain post Brexit and its energy insecurity
Energy trading through electricity interconnectors between the EU and Great Britain is no longer managed through existing single market tools, such as EU market coupling, as these are reserved for EU countries. Only Northern Ireland will maintain part of the single electricity market with Ireland, as provided by the Withdrawal Agreement.
Before Brexit, the UK participated in the EU's energy market coupling initiative, which facilitated the trading of electricity with other member states. However, after Brexit, the UK ceased to be a part of this initiative, and the energy market coupling with the EU was discontinued.
This has led to a number of consequences for the UK's energy market, including:
- Increased energy prices: The end of energy market coupling has resulted in higher energy prices for consumers in the UK. This is because the UK is no longer able to benefit from the cheaper electricity prices available in other EU countries.
- Reduced energy security: The end of energy market coupling has also reduced the UK's energy security, as the country is now more reliant on its own energy resources and less able to import electricity from other countries.
- Increased regulatory costs: The UK has had to establish its own regulatory framework for the energy market, which has resulted in additional costs for energy companies.
- Investment uncertainty: The end of energy market coupling has also created uncertainty for investors in the UK's energy sector, as they are no longer able to rely on the stable and integrated EU energy market.
Overall, the end of energy market coupling has had significant implications for the UK's energy market
[M: In retrospect one could see how Brexit may have been one of root cases of Nordstream affair - dedicated post here]
POST - Historical ROOTS of Nordstream affair (March - June 2021 - shaping policies)
14 June 2021 - Volodymyr Zelensky tells Boris Johnson Nord Stream 2 commissioning by Russia "unacceptable"
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky says the Nord Stream 2 project is a challenge to Ukraine in the field of security, noting that the commissioning of the new pipeline bypassing Ukraine would be "unacceptable."
During the call, Zelensky raised the issue of counteracting the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project, which he said is "a security challenge for Ukraine," according to the President's Office.
The president stressed the importance of further cooperation with the United Kingdom in the field of developing Ukraine's defense capabilities and strengthening the Ukrainian fleet.
29 July 2021 - Chairpersons of foreign affairs committees issue statement voicing concern over Nord Stream 2
We, the chairs of foreign affairs committees of our respective national parliaments, are deeply disturbed by the decision of the United States and Germany on Nord Stream 2, which entails resuming completion of works on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
We consider Nord Stream 2 a geopolitical project geared towards expanding Russia’s geostrategic influence on Europe by dominating the energy market. The completion of the pipeline will strengthen the impact of Russian gas in the European energy mix, endanger the national security of the EU and the United States, and threaten the already precarious security and sovereignty of Ukraine. Moreover, the completion of NS2 will give Russia yet another tool to pressure and blackmail Ukraine. It continues to face Russia’s brutal aggression and military occupation of its territories because of its pro-European choice. As a result, over 14,000 Ukrainians have died, and every week, more Ukrainian soldiers give their lives to protect their homeland and entire Europe.
The likely repercussion of the completion and operation of Nord Stream 2 is to undermine the development of a single, liberalized and open European market by consolidating sources of supply in the Nord Stream 2 system and deterring investment in alternatives.
[M: UK led group of smaller states: EST, CZE, PL, LAT, LIT, UA & UK]
II. Nordstream II could go online, UK sets new energy policy
September 2021 - Installation of Nordstream II is finished.
September 2021 - the United Kingdom's energy policy...
...was set by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), which is responsible for developing and delivering a comprehensive energy policy for the country. Kwasi Kwarteng had been appointed to head BEIS role in January 2021.
2 Sept 2021 - UK defence secretary suggests US is no longer a superpower
Ben Wallace, Britain’s defence secretary, suggested the US could no longer be considered a superpower in an interview where he also contrasted his department’s handling of the Afghanistan crisis with that of the embattled Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Asked whether the exit from Afghanistan demonstrated the limits of British power on the world stage, Wallace started by saying, “It is obvious that Britain is not a superpower,” then appeared to switch his focus to the US.
“But a superpower that is also not prepared to stick at something isn’t probably a superpower either. It is certainly not a global force, it’s just a big power,” the defence secretary added.
Former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt warned on Thursday that a dangerous fault line had emerged in the US-UK special relationship, describing the withdrawal from Kabul as catastrophic and forced on the UK.
[M: This "Dangerous fault line in US-UK Special Relationship" seems ruptured the week before the Nordstream affair - see here the post about UK-US relationship in relation to Nordstream here]
Biden has defended the withdrawal on the basis that the US must not be involved in nation-building, and their vital national interest ended when terrorists were defeated a decade ago.
[M: SIDE-COMMENT This is a 1st official confirmation for my #Mackinder #Roadblocks against Euro-Asian integration theory which is an antithesis to OBOR, described by me before 2015, has 8y validation. A chain of failed states on old SilkRoads - possible objectives of UK/UK is to create land choke-points of failed/weak states. I will write about it one day hopefully. Here is a short twitter post]
12 Sept 2021 - 3 hurdles still facing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline
The Russia-to-Germany pipeline is mechanically complete, but final technical work, safety and regulatory hurdles loom.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday and both pledged to ensure that gas continues to flow across Ukraine, an effort to allay Kyiv's fears that the Kremlin will use Nord Steam 2 as a geopolitical weapon.
Russia's state-owned Gazprom, which owns the Nord Stream 2 AG company, said it hopes to be able to ship 5.6 bcm of gas through the pipeline before the end of this year.
But first, it needs to put the final touches on construction, check the gas link for safety, and obtain a license to operate from Germany's energy regulator.
But the Bundesnetzagentur could still theoretically grant a provisional approval if it is convinced high gas prices and low supply stocks threaten Germany's energy security before winter.
I think it is possible — but not certain — that the Bundesnetzagentur could issue a provisional certification decision outlining the specific conditions that must be met by the pipeline’s operator, while allowing the gas flows to start before those conditions are fully met and in parallel with those conditions being implemented," Yafimava said. "There is also an important question [as to] whether Germany will attempt to make Nord Stream 2 certification in any way conditional on Gazprom’s commitment to post-2024 Ukraine transit."
15 September 2021 - Liz Truss replaces Dominic Raab as secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs
III. UK Exercise Submerged Crusader & Global Britain
20 Sept 2021 - Beneath the waves with Army divers
Army Divers are now predominately part of the Royal Engineers, and a smaller number in the Royal Logistic Corps, with divers across 12 teams. These include a team in our para engineer squadron, a team in our commando engineer squadron and a team in our Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) group.
20 Sept 2021 - Global Britain is planting its flag on the world stage: article by Liz Truss
As Britain’s new Foreign Secretary, I will be there making the case for building deeper economic, diplomatic and security partnerships in order to help us seize the opportunities – and tackle the challenges – of the modern age.
IV. UK Energy crisis
21 Sept 2021 - What caused the UK’s energy crisis?
21 Sept 2021 - New measures to further ease fuel supply chain pressures
The UK government has today announced further measures to help further ease supply chain pressures and spikes in localised demand for fuel.
[M: Russia not mentioned.]
22 Sept 2021 - The UK does not support Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project to Germany
...and does not need its own long-term storage facility, UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng told a parliamentary committee Sept. 22.
Having initially said otherwise, Kwarteng clarified his position saying the UK was not supportive of Nord Stream 2, which awaits regulatory clearance, while playing down its significance in the UK context.
"We are not exposed to Russian supply as many of our EU counterparts are" he said.
23 Sept 2021 - Europe's Governments Set to Spend Billions as Energy Crisis Deepens
Some European politicians are accusing the Kremlin of deliberately worsening Europe's energy crisis as a tactic to pressure the European Union into speeding up certification of the just completed Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which bypasses Ukraine and runs from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea.
The International Energy Agency has called on Russia to boost gas exports. "The IEA believes that Russia could do more to increase gas availability to Europe and ensure storage is filled to adequate levels in preparation for the coming winter heating season," it said in a statement.
Seven British natural gas suppliers have gone bust in the past six weeks, a consequence of wholesale gas prices surging by more than 70% in August alone. There are fears another three suppliers may declare bankruptcy. Suppliers are unable to pass on to customers the full increases because of government-imposed price caps on what consumers can be charged.
23 Sept 2021 - Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Boris Johnson discussed further steps to enhance strategic partnership between Ukraine and Great Britain
The parties discussed cooperation in the field of energy, in particular nuclear energy, and challenges for the European region due to the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project. The President of Ukraine stressed that this project is a geopolitical weapon of Russia.
2 Oct 2021 - Military finish up training to start fuel deliveries as government extends support to industry
UK government announces additional measures to help ensure the stability of the UK supply chain.
6 Oct 2021 - Prime Minister urges Europe to ‘stand firm’ against Russian aggression ahead of regional summit
8 Oct 2021 - Boris is right about Putin’s gas-powered games — but is the EU listening?
Now completed, Nord Stream 2 awaits approval, first by German and then by EU regulators. The British intervention is bound to irritate both Berlin and Brussels, but as Downing Street warns, the security implications are “serious” for this country, too.
Last week, a much-noted article in The Times by Peter Tiede, lead columnist for the tabloid Bild, suggested that Germans were revelling in “schadenfreude” at Britain’s fuel shortage and couldn’t care less because “nothing happening on your shores makes much of a difference to our lives”.
Given this background, the British attack on Nord Stream 2 may fall on deaf ears.
Russia will do what it can to assist the UK and could potentially even “come to the rescue” amid problems linked to rising energy costs, the country’s ambassador has suggested.Andrei Kelin also denied that Russia is withholding gas supplies, appearing to suggest commitments to increase supply will take time to take effect.
V. Liz Truss
[M: Post about Global Britain "London's attempts to implement ‘Global Britain’ concept failed"]
As the clocks go back in Britain this weekend, signalling the change of seasons, Boris Johnson must move on from petty post-Brexit ideological vendettas with Brussels, and re-engage sensibly with the EU on matters of foreign and security policy.
4 Nov 2021 - We must stand together for freedom and democracy:
article by Liz Truss
I want our friends across Europe to join us. That means standing together for example in opposing the construction of the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline. It risks undermining European security by allowing Russia to tighten its grip on those nations who rely on its gas, despite the pandemic reminding us about the importance of having diverse supply chains to avoid being strategically dependent on unreliable partners.
5 Nov 2021 - Stop guzzling Russian gas, Boris Johnson tells Europe
Addressing the governments of Germany, Austria, Italy, France, and other European countries that import large amounts of Russian gas, Mr Johnson said:"We hope that our friends may recognise that a choice is shortly coming between mainlining ever more Russian hydrocarbons in giant new pipelines and sticking up for Ukraine and championing the cause of peace and stability, let me put it that way."
14 Nov 2021 - We must stand together for freedom and democracy: article by Liz Truss
Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, the Foreign Secretary says Russia has a responsibility to end the migrant crisis in Belarus.
I want our friends across Europe to join us. That means standing together for example in opposing the construction of the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline. It risks undermining European security by allowing Russia to tighten its grip on those nations who rely on its gas, despite the pandemic reminding us about the importance of having diverse supply chains to avoid being strategically dependent on unreliable partners.
At this critical time, we should be deepening our investment and trade ties with counties that follow the rules and allow free market economies to thrive. We cannot, and will not, ever give succour to those who want to undermine freedom and democracy.
Together with our friends and allies, we can build a network of liberty, working to repel these malign actors to ensure freedom loving people can live in peace.
V. The first ultimatums for Germany
15 Nov 2021 - Boris Johnson Warns Gas Pipeline From Russia Puts Stability at Risk
16 Nov 2021 - Boris Johnson warns EU to choose between Ukraine and Nord Stream 2
Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Truss urged “friends across Europe” to stand together in opposing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. “It risks undermining European security by allowing Russia to tighten its grip on those nations who rely on its gas,” she wrote.
16 Nov 2021 - PM Johnson underlined UK opposition to Nord Stream 2 pipeline -spokesman
16 Nov 2021 - EU ultimatum! Boris warns bloc must chose Russian gas pipeline or 'stick up for Ukraine'
16 Nov 2021 - Germany suspends certification of Nord Stream 2 pipeline
Gas prices jump as energy regulator’s decision deals another blow to Kremlin-backed project
18 Nov 2021 - Nord Stream 2: Will you go to the Gazprom with me?
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday that “a choice is shortly coming” for Europe, between consuming more Russian fossil fuels or “sticking up for Ukraine and championing the cause of peace and stability”.
[M: Signing of 10 Nov 2022 - U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership - The USA confirmed that it will help Ukraine to regain control over its East provinces and Crimea and help it to join Norh Atlantic structures without naming them. Signing of the charter has triggered Russia to move armies toward Ukrainian border. The conflict was inevitable.]
29 Nov 2021 - Classified document sheds light on US-Germany Nord Stream 2 conciliation effort
Germany’s foreign ministry said it was working closely with the US administration on implementing a joint declaration on the pipeline.“We fundamentally reject sanctions among allies,” it said in response to a query from Reuters about a 6-page document marked ‘classified’ obtained by Axios, which said Berlin had urged members of the US Congress not to sanction the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as doing so would “weaken” US credibility and “ultimately damage transatlantic unity”.
30 Nov 2021 - Liz Truss urges Nato allies to block Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline
It remains to be seen how far the UK can push its opposition to Nord Stream 2 but the prime minister, Boris Johnson, raised the issue’s profile in a foreign policy speech at the Guildhall this month, saying: “We hope that our friends may recognise that a choice is shortly coming between mainlining ever more Russian hydrocarbons in giant new pipelines, and sticking up for Ukraine and championing the cause of peace and stability.”
30 Nov 2021 - Russia will pay the price if it invades Ukraine: Foreign Secretary LIZ TRUSS underlines her determination to stand up to Vladimir Putin
6 Dec 2021 - Russian state TV has mocked UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss for riding in a tank and warning President Vladimir Putin that it would be a 'strategic mistake' to invade Ukraine.
8 Dec 2021 - Liz Truss: Europe needs to end energy dependency on Russia, says UK foreign minister
British foreign minister Liz Truss said on Wednesday Europe would become increasingly hooked on Russian gas if Moscow got its way and it was time for countries to end that dependency.
“The EU (European Union) relies on Russia for over 40% of its gas, and with some countries Russia has a complete monopoly of supply. If Russia gets its way, Europe will be increasingly hooked on its gas,” Truss told the Chatham House think tank.
“We have to end this strategic dependency,” she said, adding she would meet her Ukrainian counterpart on Wednesday to strengthen their ties and repeat the message that any Russian incursion into Ukraine would be a mistake.
Germany has agreed to take action if Russia uses energy as a weapon in its relations with Ukraine, but the deal does not provide a specific criteria for how that would be judged.
8 Dec 2021 - British and Danish defence ministers issue joint declaration
The Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, and his Danish counterpart signed a joint declaration today in Copenhagen.
Today we have discussed areas for a broadened and deepened cooperation. We have agreed upon strengthened cooperation in a number of areas:
- The UK and Denmark will enhance cooperation on response forces – both within NATO and with rapid deployable forces for crisis response.
- The UK and Denmark will continue cooperation in the Baltic region, including within the framework of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence in Estonia and Multinational Division (North) in Latvia and in Denmark.
- The UK and Denmark will work together to develop the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) to stand with allies and close partners and defend common values.
- The UK and Denmark will cooperate on and train Host Nation Support to ensure fast deployment of UK forces through Danish territory in case of crises. To deter Russia from aggressive behaviour and other threats, NATO must be able to deploy forces across all its regions at the speed of relevance in order to provide timely reinforcement of allies in a crisis or a military conflict. We will enhance cooperation on military mobility through NATO, the Northern Group and bilaterally.
[M: The speculation here is that the UK deployed covertly its submarine S120 Ambush to lay charges to Nordstream]
Ben Wallace met Danish and Swedish counterparts, underlining strength of UK’s bilateral relationships.
Denmark and Sweden are both members of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) – 10 nations working together to deliver forces at high readiness, across a range of roles, complementing NATO and European security. During the visit the Defence Secretary met ambassadors from the JEF nations to discuss the co-ordination of members in response to grey-zone threats.
11 Dec 2021 - UK seeks unity at G7 meeting over Russia’s ‘malign behaviour’
Getting a unified response from the G-7, a group of countries with disparate interests, has often proved tough. Germany plans on getting gas from Russia soon through the contentious Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which bypasses Ukraine. Britain, which is not dependent on Russian gas, generally takes a tougher line on the pipeline — but faces tough questions about London’s financial district and property market, both hubs for Russian money.
Truss said she wanted to work with other countries “to make sure that free democratic nations are able to have an alternative to Russian gas supplies.”
She met on the sidelines of the gathering with Germany’s new foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, a politician from the environmentalist Greens who previously opposed Nord Stream 2.
17 Dec 2021 - Zelensky, Johnson discuss energy security issues, situation in Donbas
Later, the President's Office of Ukraine said on its website that Johnson and Zelensky expressed a common position on the inadmissibility of using the Nord Stream 2 project as a weapon.
6 Jan 2022 - U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss Announces Kyiv Visit, Says Russia's Only Path Forward Is De-Escalation With Ukraine
Truss said, "and I'm working with allies and partners to highlight the strategic risks of this project."
"Europe must reduce its dependence on Russian gas," Truss added.
6 Jan 2022 - Russia Volume 706: debated on Thursday 6 January 2022
Finally, Europe must reduce its dependence on Russian gas. Britain remains opposed to Nord Stream 2, and I am working with allies and partners to highlight the strategic risks of this project. We are reaching a crucial moment
The cable is operated by Space Norway, and also serves the SvalSat park of more than 100 satellite antennas. SvalSat is today the world’s largest commercial ground station with worldwide customers. Its location at 78°N, halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, gives the station a unique position to provide all-orbit support to operators of polar-orbiting satellites.
9 Jan 2022 - Adm. Tony Radakin says any attempt by submarines at damage would be treated as ‘act of war’
21 Jan 2022 - Liz Truss declares '100 per cent' loyalty to Boris Johnson
...as Tory leadership row rumbles on. The Foreign Secretary - who is seen as a potential replacement for the Prime Minister - insisted 'there is no leadership contest' as she sidestepped questions on whether she had ambitions.
22 Jan 2022 - Boris Johnson meets president Zelensky on surprise visit to Ukraine
25 Jan 2022 - UK calls for end to Nord Stream 2 in event of RU attack on Ukraine
In an interview with Sky News on Monday, the country’s foreign minister Liz Truss said she was “very clear that Nord Stream 2 should not continue in the event of an attack on Ukraine.” When asked whether she believed the project should continue at all, she replied that Europe needs to reduce its reliance on Russian natural gas, as troop buildups at the border between Russia and Ukraine increasingly stoke fears among western countries over the outbreak of an armed conflict.
Earlier in the week, the Kremlin rejected fears that Russia could halt gas supplies if new sanctions are introduced. "Russia has fulfilled its treaty obligations impeccably in the most difficult moments of confrontation between East and West," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Interfax agency, according to the Tagesspiegel.
30 Jan 2022 - Nord Stream2 stops! Liz Truss issues ultimatum to Germany 'we cannot allow that to happen'
31 Jan 2022 - I had a discussion with my colleague Foreign Minister Baerbock
...last week about precisely this issue, and I welcome the statements from her and Chancellor Scholz about Nord Stream 2, in which they were very clear that it will not go ahead in the event of a Russian incursion. We do need to reduce dependence on Russian gas. I welcome the work that the United States is doing to look at how supplies can be augmented, and we are working with partners across the middle east. This is a strategic issue for Europe and we do need to reduce dependence on Russian gas—there is no doubt about it.
I have been very clear about our position on Nord Stream 2. More broadly, we need to reduce dependence on Russian gas. On the discussions taking place in various formats, we cannot have a situation in which Russian aggression is rewarded in any way. It has no auspices over Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, and we are very clear on that. What we are working on, and what tomorrow’s meeting of Foreign Ministers is about, is making sure that we are co-ordinating our positions across NATO, and we are very clear on those red lines.
4 Feb 2022 - Liz Truss clashes with Putin henchman Sergei Lavrov over Ukraine in Moscow showdown as he rejects demand to cool 'Cold War rhetoric' and slams West's 'ultimatums and moralising' - as TV host accuses her of 'behaving in the classic British colonial style'
4 Feb 2022 - PM Johnson: Europe needs to "Remove Nord Stream II from Their veins"
7 Feb 2022 - UK sends more than 100 SAS and SBS special forces advisors to Kiev as more than 1,000 elite US troops arrive in Poland'
The UK has sent more than 100 special forces advisors to Kiev to train Ukrainian soldiers as tensions reach boiling point over fears of a Russian invasion.
8 Feb 2022 - EXU-1, FBI Host Maritime Post-Blast Investigation Course at NAS Key West
The Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace MP, today (11 February) held talks with the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergey Shoygu.
Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin also met his counterpart, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Valery Gerasimov.
Foreign secretary says she had a 'clear message' to deliver to the Kremlin
UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss defended her decision to hold talks in Moscow with foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, insisting she had to deliver a clear message to Russia.
The talks between the Ms Truss and Mr Lavrov last week were tense and ended in an awkward press conference in which the Russian minister appeared to question her understanding of the crisis.
“Of course, the Russians didn’t like what I had to say but I had to deliver a message to Vladimir Putin’s government," she said on Monday.
“I went to Russia to deliver a very clear message, which is that it’s Russia who is the aggressor.
“Of course, the Russians didn’t like what I had to say but I say it nevertheless. And I want them to desist and I want them to be aware that there will be severe costs of an invasion.”
Mr Lavrov described the meeting as a “conversation between deaf and dumb”, claiming Ms Truss did not listen to Russia’s position and the UK was unprepared for the talks.
“What I think all European countries need to do now is get Nord Stream out of the bloodstream,” Boris Johnson said.
“Yank out that hypodermic drip feed of Russian hydrocarbons that is keeping so many European economies going.”
14 Feb 2022 - UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Europe needs to "snip the drip feed into our bloodstream from Nord Stream". BBC
14 Feb 2022 - We must now wean ourselves off dependence on Putin’s oil and gas.
It’s vital that the Russian people and the Russian government hear directly from us about the price they would pay for a further invasion.
Not only would there be massive consequences bringing severe economic costs for Russia through an unprecedented package of coordinated sanctions.
It would also hit their other strategic interests including Nord Stream 2 - making it unconscionable for the pipeline to go ahead.
Alongside our allies, we are taking a hard-headed approach, which means being ready to accept short-term pain for long-term gain, whether through imposing sanctions or cutting strategic dependence.
18 Feb 2022 - G7 leaders agreed this afternoon to work in unity to "maximise the economic price" that Putin will pay.
Johnson says this "must include" ending reliance on Russian oil and gas - hails Germany's suspension of Nord Stream 2.
19 Feb 2022 - PM speech at the Munich Security Conference
We must now wean ourselves off dependence on Putin’s oil and gas.I understand the costs and complexities of this effort and the fact this is easier said than done, so I am grateful for Chancellor Scholz’s assurances about Nord Stream 2, but the lessons of the last few years, and of Gazprom’s obvious manipulation of European gas supply, cannot be ignored.
We must ensure that by making full use of alternative suppliers and technology, we make Russia’s threats redundant.
That will be the work of the months and years to come, as well as the necessary and overdue steps that we in the UK must take to protect our own financial system.
[M: Funny thing is that UK is not dependant on the Russian gas yet she speaks we must wean ourselves off dependence...]
22 Feb 2022 - Watch live as Boris Johnson announces sanctions after Germany halts Nord Stream
... withstand the economic impact of Russia’s actions. We are using our economic heft to inflict pain on Russia and to support the Ukrainian people.
[M: It is odd that Ukraine got $500million just a day before the conflict started.]
...UK military can 'kick Russia's backside', defence sec says Defence Secretary Ben Wallace tells military personnel that Vladimir Putin has gone "full tonto" over Ukraine and left himself with "no friends". The British army "kicked the backside of Tsar Nicholas I in 1853 in Crimea", he adds, and "can always do it again". (video)
23 Feb 2022 - Boris Johnson tells City of London to prepare for tough new sanctions on Russia
PM tells executives he wants the next round of measures to ‘really bite’
Boris Johnson has told the City of London to prepare to implement a tough new wave of financial sanctions if Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as Labour urged the prime minister to “get on with it”.
Johnson has been stung by criticism that his first “barrage” of measures against Russia was too weak and left Britain trailing the US and EU in the scope and scale of its reprisals.
The prime minister on Wednesday convened leading City figures including senior executives from HSBC, Barclays, Goldman Sachs and Lloyd’s of London to tell them that he wanted the next “wave” of sanctions to “really bite”. Trading exchanges and regulators were also represented at the meeting in Number 10.
The City executives told Johnson they were already carrying out stress-testing on their business models to assess the impact of what Johnson claims will be robust sanctions.
“We want the toughest possible next tranche and I do think that will make a difference and change the outcome,” Johnson told the meeting. “Putin must fail.”
24 Feb 2022 - PM: West must end Russian ‘grip’ on politics by ending dependence on Putin’s oil
Boris Johnson is rallying European leaders to sever the dependence on Russian oil that has given Vladimir Putin a “grip” on Western politics in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Johnson praised Germany’s decision to finally block the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia, which is expected to deliver a major economic blow to Moscow.
He also held talks with Jonas Store, the Prime Minister of Norway, which is one of the world’s biggest oil and gas exporters.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave a statement to the House of Commons on Ukraine.Now we have a clear mission:diplomatically, politically, economically – and eventually, militarily – this hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure.At the G7 meeting this afternoon, we agreed to work in unity to maximise the economic price that Putin will pay for his aggression.And this must include ending Europe’s collective dependence on Russian oil and gas that has served to empower Putin for too long.So I welcome again Chancellor Scholz’s excellent decision to halt the certification of Nord Stream 2.Mr Speaker, countries that together comprise about half of the world economy are now engaged in maximising the pressure, economic pressure, on one which makes up a mere 2 per cent.For our part, today the UK is announcing the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen.With new financial measures we are taking new powers to target Russian finance. in addition to the banks we have already sanctioned this week, today – in concert with the United States – we are imposing a full asset freeze on VTB.More broadly, these powers will enable us to totally exclude Russian banks from the UK financial system, which is of course by far the largest in Europe, stopping them from accessing Sterling and clearing payments through the UK.And with around half of Russia’s trade currently in US dollars and sterling, I am pleased to tell the House the United States is taking a similar measures...
FAQ: Is the government confident that gas supply will not be disrupted?
Yes. The current situation facing the UK is not a question of security of gas supply, but of high gas prices set by international markets.
Unlike other countries in Europe, the UK is in no way dependent on Russian gas supply. We meet around half of our annual gas supply through domestic production and the vast majority of imports come from reliable suppliers such as Norway.
... it will “exit” its joint ventures with Gazprom and any related entities, including the NS2 project. Shell’s CEO, Ben van Beurden, has said "Our decision to exit is one we take with conviction. We cannot – and we will not – stand by".
28 Feb 2022 - Putin issued nuclear order in response to Liz Truss comments, Kremlin says
‘I will not name the authors of these statements, although it was the British foreign secretary’
Vladimir Putin put Russia’s nuclear deterrent forces on high alert in response to comments made by foreign secretary Liz Truss, the chief spokesperson for the Russian president has said.
Mr Putin’s command, issued on Sunday, significantly escalated the crisis over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, raising the spectre of a worldwide nuclear conflict.
Today, his spokesperson Dmitry Peskov blamed “unacceptable” comments from Western politicians for prompting the move, and singled out Ms Truss.
“There were unacceptable statements about possible conflict situations and even confrontations and clashes between Nato and Russia,” said Mr Peskov.“I will not name the authors of these statements, although it was the British foreign secretary.”
1 March 2022 - Boris Johnson’s spokesperson said the sanctions on Russia
“we are introducing, that large parts of the world are introducing, are to bring down the Putin regime.”
02 March 2022 - UK gov study "Geopolitical implications of Nord Stream 2"
March 2022 - Geopolitical implications of Nord Stream 2 - UK Parliament
Implications for Ukraine - Nord Stream 2 has implications for Ukraine. Although not a huge importer of Russian gas, Ukraine is a major transit country of current Russian gas pipelines into Europe. Transit fees are thought to account for almost 3% of Ukraine’s GDP, which will bring an expected revenue of $2-3 billion annually over the next five years.
VI. Executing the new UK´s energy policy and its fresh update
He told reporters that he would set out an energy supply strategy in the coming days.
‘There are going to be impacts but I think it is the right thing to do. It is completely the right thing to do to move away from Russian hydrocarbons but we have to do it step by by step.
‘We have got to make sure we have substitute supply. One of the things we are looking at is the possibility of using more of our own hydrocarbons. ‘That doesn’t mean we are in any way abandoning our commitment to reducing CO2 but we have got to reflect the reality that there is a crunch on at the moment. We need to increase our self-reliance.
[M: Is this it? Could this news mean that the Decision to take down Nordstream has been done?]
[M: The UK is the only country which wants total closure of Russian oil and gas.]
March 2022 - Boris Johnson to unveil new ‘energy supply strategy’ that hints at fossil fuel uptake
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that he will launch a new "energy supply strategy" in the coming days that hints at using more UK-derived fossil fuels in the short term to reduce reliance on Russian gas.
9 March 2022 - Diplomatically, politically, economically – and eventually, militarily
...Putin must fail in his invasion of Ukraine. The world is united in condemning the invasion and taking action.
9 March 2022 - Statement on the phasing out of Russian oil imports
Statement by Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on the phasing out of Russian oil imports.
Measure detail
But we want to go further, Madam Deputy Speaker.
Yesterday I set out that the UK is phasing out imports of Russian oil during the course of the year.
This transition will give the market, it will give businesses and supply chains more than enough time to substitute Russian imports.
[M: If one would want to take a Nordstream pipeline out one should protect its companies and prepare for it economically]
13 March 2022 - Rishi Sunak urges UK companies to stop investing in Russia
14 March 2022 - UK’s new foreign policy — Russia is No 1 danger
Moscow branded hostile and China a competitor, says a key security review to be revealed this week
16 March 2022 - Prime Minister @BorisJohnson met
...with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. They agreed to collaborate to maintain stability in the energy market and continue the transition to clean technology. They also committed to boost cooperation in defence and trade.
... the Crown Prince of the UAE @MohamedBinZayed. They welcomed the longstanding partnership between our two countries and discussed opportunities to increase collaboration on energy security, defence and trade.
16 March 2022 - Prime Minister @BorisJohnson on why it’s vital that we invest in renewable energy and end the West’s reliance on Putin’s oil and gas.
see video news here
17 March 2022 - BoJo: We need to wean the West off Russian oil and gas
...to punish Putin’s war machine. Prime Minister @BorisJohnson has been working with partners in the UAE and Saudi Arabia on stabilising global energy markets and ramping up investments in renewable technologies.
19 March 2022 - Britain's Johnson Warns Against Attempts To 'Renormalize' Relations With Russia
19 March 2022 - Boris Johnson tells The Economist about his anti-Russia coalition
The British-led Joint Expeditionary Force is moving quickly against Russia
JEF largely unknown outside defence circles, was established a decade ago as a high-readiness force focused on the High North, North Atlantic and Baltic Sea regions (see map for its members). Unlike NATO, it does not need internal consensus to deploy troops in a crisis: Britain, the “framework” nation, could launch operations with one or more partners. As one British officer puts it: “The JEF can act while NATO is thinking.”
21 March 2022 - Today the Prime Minister met nuclear industry leaders today to..
... discuss how to improve domestic energy security and accelerate nuclear projects in the UK.
[M: A necessary step regardless but also needy would one want to prepare for the Nordstream mission]
24 March 2022 - WARNING: As Russian troops were positioned...
...on Ukraine’s border, the UK and its @NATO Allies and partners warned that any incursion would be a strategic mistake with massive consequences. We made plans to impose severe costs on Russia should it invade.
Today @BorisJohnson and I are at the @NATO Summit to discuss further steps to reassure Allies and deter any threats to NATO after Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
24 March 2022 - Spoke to @WBHoekstra
...about further coordinated sanctions against Putin and those who support him. The Netherlands and UK will continue to firmly and swiftly impose crippling economic measures on Russia’s war machine.
25 March 2022 - The Prime Minister met with President of the EU Commission
... @vonderleyen . They committed to strengthen economic sanctions on Putin’s regime and continue working together to diversify energy sources – moving away from reliance on Russian hydrocarbons.
28 March 2022 - Zelensky ranks which countries are helping Ukraine most as he praises Boris Johnson but rebukes Macron
1 April 2022 - We agreed that pressure on Russia must continue and we will work to eliminate dependency on Russian energy.
4 April 2022 - Foreign Secretary to visit Poland to call for tougher action to tackle Russian aggression
Liz Truss will travel to Poland today (Monday 4 April) to see Ukrainian and Polish Foreign Ministers ahead of G7 and NATO talks in Brussels later this week.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:
Putin is yet to show he is serious about diplomacy. A tough approach from the UK and our allies is vital to strengthen Ukraine’s hand in negotiations.
Britain has helped lead the way with sanctions to cripple the Putin war machine. We will do more to ramp up the pressure on Russia and we will keep pushing others to do more.
5 April 2022 - Liz Truss wants Russian economy pushed ‘back to Soviet era’, as 60% of Putin war chest frozen
Foreign secretary Liz Truss vowed to push Russia’s economy “back into the Soviet era”, as she called on the UK’s European allies to step up sanctions and hasten the end of dependence on Moscow’s fossil fuels...
Ms Truss said she wanted Britain’s partners to go further in sanctions by “cracking down on more Russian banks” and agreeing “a clear timetable to eliminate our imports of Russian oil, coal and gas”.
5 April 2022 - Spoke to Italian Foreign Minister @luigidimaio
...about tackling the income that is funding Putin’s regime. We need to step up our coordinated sanctions to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
6 April 2022 - We're going further to cripple Putin’s war machine.
Today I have announced our toughest sanctions yet - targeting Russia's energy industry, as well as hitting more banks, businesses and oligarchs who are financing Russia's abhorrent crimes in Ukraine.
6 April 2022 - UK imposes sweeping new sanctions to starve Putin's war machine
...Our latest wave of measures will bring an end to the UK’s imports of Russian energy and sanction yet more individuals and businesses, decimating Putin’s war machine...
...by the end of 2022, the UK will end all dependency on Russian coal and oil, and end imports of gas as soon as possible thereafter. From next week, the export of key oil refining equipment and catalysts will also be banned, degrading Russia’s ability to produce and export oil – targeting not only the industry’s finances but its capabilities as a whole...
6 April 2022 - Prime Minister Boris Johnson's article on Ukraine.
But we must go further to cripple Putin’s war machine through sanctions. I am working with our G7 partners to crack down on more Russian banks and agree a clear timetable to eliminate our imports of Russian oil, gas and coal. I am also encouraging them to join the UK in banning Russian ships from our ports and putting Russian gold beyond Putin’s reach...
Third, we must maximise the economic pressure on Putin’s regime. We must go further on economic sanctions, expelling every Russian bank from SWIFT. We must go after the oligarchs, as the UK is doing – sanctioning over 300 elites and entities including Putin himself and giving our law enforcement agencies unprecedented powers to peel back the façade of dirty Russian money in London. But these measures will be insufficient unless Europe begins to wean itself off the Russian oil and gas that bankrolls Putin’s war machine...
7 April 2022 - G7 foreign ministers and the High Representative of the European Union issued a joint statement on Russia and Ukraine following a meeting at NATO today, 7 April.
9. In light of Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, carried out with Belarus’ complicity, we have already adopted unprecedented and coordinated economic and financial sanctions against Russia that impose a significant cost on its economy. We stress the necessity of further increasing the economic pressure inflicted on Russia and the Lukashenka regime in Belarus. Together with international partners, the G7 will sustain and increase pressure on Russia by imposing coordinated additional restrictive measures to effectively thwart Russian abilities to continue the aggression against Ukraine. We will work together to stop any attempts to circumvent sanctions or to aid Russia by other means. We are taking further steps to expedite plans to reduce our reliance on Russian energy, and will work together to this end.
7 April 2022 - Russia has brought barbarity and devastation to Ukraine.
I told @HouseofCommons that the UK must do everything we can to ensure Putin loses.
7 April 2022 - UK updates its energy security strategy
It is crucial we work with international partners to maintain stable energy markets and prices. This will help protect UK consumers and reduce the use of fossil fuels globally. Similar to our domestic strategy, we have a dual approach to reduce global reliance on Russian fossil fuels whilst pivoting towards clean, affordable energy. To reduce global reliance on Russian fossil fuels, the UK is:
- committing to phase out the use of Russian oil and coal by the end of 2022, and end imports of Russian liquefied natural gas as soon as possible thereafter. The US has made similar commitments
- building international support to reduce Russian energy revenues. Internationally coordinated action, for example, through the G7 and International Energy Agency is key to support stable markets and to help secure the critical minerals we all need to successfully move to clean energy
- providing a key EU entry point for non-Russian supplies of gas. We are examining our infrastructure to ensure gas flows efficiently between the UK, Europe and the global market through our interconnectors and LNG terminals and promote gas infrastructure to be hydrogen-ready
Oil and gas
- Low carbon UK gas, and zero Russian imports.
8 April 2022 - The Prime Minister welcomed German @Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz
...to Downing Street today to discuss how we can accelerate support for Ukraine, toughen sanctions and help European countries wean themselves off Russian energy.
[M: Note this news from Borrell later on disclosing there was a:
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:Our unprecedented package of sanctions is hitting the elite and their families, while degrading the Russian economy on a scale Russia hasn’t seen since the fall of the Soviet Union.But we need to do more. Through the G7, we are working with partners to end the use of Russian energy and further hit Putin’s ability to fund his illegal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.Together, we are tightening the ratchet on Russia’s war machine, cutting off Putin’s sources of cash.
How important is Russian supply, and which countries could replace it?
Russia is the second largest producer of oil in the world, behind the US. Russian imports account for 8% of total UK oil demand. Two countries—the UAE and Saudi Arabia—are arguably best able to ramp up spare production capacity quickly. This is where recent UK diplomacy has focused.
UK visits UAE and Saudi Arabia, March 2022
On 16 March 2022, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, visited both Saudi Arabia and the UAE to discuss energy security, including potential measures to diversify the UK’s energy supply. He also raised human rights concerns with Saudi Arabia.
The visit did not result in pledges from the two countries to increase their production. However, both the UAE and Saudi Arabia committed to improving stability in the global energy markets and to advance green technology and trade with the UK.
11 April 2022 - UK hits key Russian oligarchs with sanctions worth up to £10 billion
Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss announced the government will freeze assets connected with the pair estimated to total up to £10 billion, the largest asset freeze action in UK history.Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:We are tightening the ratchet on Putin’s war machine and targeting the circle of people closest to the Kremlin. We will keep going with sanctions until Putin fails in Ukraine. Nothing and no one is off the table.Sanctions imposed by the UK and its international partners are having deep and damaging consequences for Putin’s ability to wage war. Analysis shows Russia is heading for the deepest recession since the collapse of the Soviet Union with £275 billion – 60% of Russian foreign currency reserves – currently frozen.
13 April 2022 - Foreign Secretary announces 178 new sanctions, coordinated with the EU, targeting those who prop up Russian-backed illegal breakaway regions of Ukraine.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:
In the wake of horrific rocket attacks on civilians in Eastern Ukraine, we are today sanctioning those who prop up the illegal breakaway regions and are complicit in atrocities against the Ukrainian people. We will continue to target all those who aid and abet Putin’s war.
From tomorrow, we are banning the import of Russian iron and steel, as well as the export of quantum technologies and advanced materials that Putin sorely needs. We will not rest in our mission to stop Putin’s war machine in its tracks.
26 April 2022 - Liz Truss - Russia has brought barbarity and devastation
...to Ukraine. I told @HouseofCommons that the UK must do everything we can to ensure Putin loses.
26 April 2022 - Liz Truss is ready to try and beat global aggressors at their own game
[M: This is highly interesting news, in light of future NS destruction, the hit on NS and consolidation of EU foreign policy, etc, it all looks like part of strategy]
"The Foreign Secretary believes there needs to be a much greater economic underpinning to foreign policy
When Liz Truss addresses diplomats this evening with the annual Mansion House speech, it will be the first time since her appointment as Foreign Secretary that she has set out her plan to reconfigure the UK’s foreign policy.Since Truss’s promotion to the great office of state in the autumn reshuffle, she has seen a wider geopolitical shift than many foreign secretaries have encountered in the bulk of their tenure.Berlin has cancelled the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and increased its defence spending – rewriting 30 years of German foreign policy which has been underpinned by a belief in change through trade.
[M: It was not cancelled at this point, just legal issues but the project continued]
On the UK side, much of what has happened confirmed the Government assessment on the threats the West faces. The 2021 integrated review (into foreign, security and defence policy) correctly identified Russia as the greatest threat – while naming China as “a systemic challenge”.Yet with events moving as quickly as they are, the view in the Foreign Office is that the UK must now go further still. Key to this is to fix what has long been a weak flank of UK foreign policy: moving to strengthen economic ties – both with long-standing allies and those countries the UK wishes to bring into its orbit.While the West has rallied in the wake of war in Ukraine, the fact that Russia invaded in the first place was a failure of deterrence. The view of the Foreign Secretary is that in order to avoid repeating the same mistakes, a new approach is required – one in which there needs to be a much greater economic underpinning to foreign policy.
[M: Is the destruction of EU-Russia economic ties an objective?]
Part of the reason Russian strength got to the point it did was that the world let its guard down – both in terms of defence spending and economic ties. In that period, other governments viewed as aggressors have expanded their reach – just look at how the Chinese government has expanded its influence in the Indo-Pacific through economic ties.Now the UK wants to beat these aggressors at their own game. It’s not just about boosting defence spending – something Truss has previously suggested would be necessary – though the Chancellor Rishi Sunak may want to look away when she gets up to speak on Wednesday.Instead, it’s engaging with other countries. “Liz wants the free world to use economics as a hard-edged tool of security and foreign policy because we’ve neglected it since the Cold War and aggressors have been bolder,” says an ally of the Foreign Secretary. “She wants to use economics to constrain rivals and also build closer trade and investment links with a wider group of countries.”Another supporter of Truss puts it this way: “We need an economic Nato.”This shift can also be summarised as a “carrot and stick” approach. The stick can be seen in the power of the sanctions levied against Russia by the G7 and its allies. The economic damage they are inflicting is leading to pain for Putin and his people. They could go further still – with a ban on imports of oil and gas; hydrocarbons make up a third of the Russian economy.As for the carrot, during the Cold War the US did two things – establish Nato and then a general agreement on tariffs and trade. This time around a wider reach would be required – taking into account those countries in the Indo-Pacific who see what’s happening in Ukraine and worry for their own security."
5 May 2022 - Liz Truss, UK announces new trade sanctions against Russia to cut off funding to Putin’s war machine.
5 May 2022 - A strange message to Boris Johnson and V. Zelenski appeared o Twitter.
Ahead of Victory Day, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss wrote an article that appeared in several European newspapers including Die Welt, La Repubblica and Le Figaro.We have been at the forefront using every economic lever at our disposal to starve Putin’s war machine of funding. The UK has sanctioned more individuals and organisations than any other nation and taken decisive action on trade by banning high tech exports.
Russian imports supplied only 2.2% of energy used in the UK in 2021..
To account for future changes to gas and oil supply and secure more domestic resources, the Government plans to further utilise North Sea reserves alongside commissioning a scientific review of shale gas extraction.
The Institute for Government (IfG) said the security of the UK’s physical supply will “likely hold up” following possible Russian gas export disruptions to the EU, even without measures from the strategy, due to diversity of supply.
A decade ago, Germany built the first Nord Stream pipeline to solve their energy needs. They bet on Russian gas to fire Berlin's boilers and Munich's power plants.It was a deal with the devil and now the price has become clear.Vladimir Putin's hand on the gas tap is extracting influence across Europe as he murders thousands in Ukraine.
14 May 2022 - Russia’s war against Ukraine: G7 foreign ministers' statement, 14 May 2022
Following their meeting in Germany, G7 foreign ministers released a joint statement on Russia's war against Ukraine
We will expedite our efforts to reduce and end reliance on Russian energy supplies as quickly as possible, building on G7 commitments to phase out or ban imports of Russian coal and oil. We will accelerate the energy transition and enhance energy efficiency in the context of the accelerated phasing out of our dependency on Russian energy, in accordance with our climate objectives and energy security imperatives, thereby steadily reducing foreign currency flows into Russia and restricting the financial means available to fund Russia’s war machinery. We will ensure that we do so in a timely and orderly fashion, and in ways that provide time for the world to secure alternative supplies...
Admiral Sir Ben Key, the First Sea Lord, said it is key for NATO nations to 'contain' the war in Ukraine so that it does not 'accelerate away from us'.
Sir Ben told The Daily Telegraph: 'The lessons of history would say that we are in a particularly fragile moment right now.
'[This] is why it's really important that while the support we are giving to Ukraine at the moment is to enable them, we have to show a robust a resilient posture across the rest of the contact line with Russia, wherever that is, at sea, in the air, the rest of the NATO landmass, so that Mr Putin understands that this is not something that he can broaden without a huge cost to him and Russia.'
How EU dependency on Russian energy affects the UKThe UK is far less reliant on Russian gas than the EU, but security of EU gas supply matters to the UK because:
- it affects the prices of UK gas and electricity;
- it could affect the UK’s own security of supply if gas imports into the UK were re-directed to the EU;
- energy exports are economically important to Russia and changes may therefore affect geopolitical relations.
UK-EU cooperation
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has stimulated UK and EU cooperation on the security of energy supply.
At the 30 March 2022 meeting of the UK-EU Specialised Committee on Energy, the UK and EU agreed to facilitate regular exchanges on the security of supply (PDF). They specifically discussed establishing a Working Group on Security of Supply as a matter of priority.
This is because there is insufficient LNG import capacity within the EU, but spare capacity in the UK as well as capacity on the pipelines from the UK to mainland Europe.
[M: Looks like a strengthening of the possible motive after Brexit. Planning of getting paid as EU does not have enough LNG import facilities?]
Russia’s vital exports of energy are also shrinking – with crude oil exports down 30% in April and expected to fall further as sanctions bite. Through co-ordinated action across the G7 to phase out oil imports, alongside the banning of critical oil refining and catalyst goods, international allies are tightening the vice on Putin’s most trusted revenue stream.
Russia is ‘our number one threat’ as its submarines circle Britain
27 May 2022 - Johnson proposes alternative union with Ukraine, may include Baltic states
This alliance could include, in addition to the UK and Ukraine, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and possibly later Turkey.
30 May 2022 - Energy crisis: UK to become MAJOR exporter to EU with huge wind and solar boom
BRITAIN could soon find a way out of the energy crisis, as a new report suggests that the UK could receive a massive supply of green electricity.
5 June 2022 - Norway calls off gas strikes that risked UK supply
The UK imports about 50% of its gas and Norway is its biggest supplier making up 77% of imports, ONS data shows.
The Department for Business said: "We have one of the most reliable and diverse energy systems in the world, with access to our own North Sea gas reserves, and the second largest LNG port infrastructure in Europe."
16 June 2022 - British Gas owner signs deal with Norway firm for extra UK supplies
The British Gas owner, Centrica, has signed a major supply deal with the Norwegian state oil company, Equinor, as ministers scramble to secure domestic energy supplies.Equinor has agreed to deliver an additional 1bn cubic metres of gas supplies to the company for each of the next three years – enough to heat an additional 4.5m UK homes.
UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote a joint article in The Telegraph about how to stop Putin's war in Ukraine.
It is therefore imperative that the G7 and NATO this week demonstrate that their commitment to Ukraine will never be surpassed by Putin’s determination to seize it. That means increasing and speeding up their supply of heavy weapons, continuing to sanction all those colluding in Putin’s war, and cutting off imports of Russian energy completely.
The UK is increasing its sanctions, with further legislation this week on a range of trade bans, and more to come over the next month. The free world, collectively, needs to bear down harder to cut Russia off from its key sources of foreign income: energy and other exports such as gold.
29 June 2022 - NATO Public Forum session on NATO in an era of great power competition: Foreign Secretary’s remarks
Liz Truss spoke at the panel session of the NATO Public Forum in Madrid about how we must be united to ensure Ukraine wins, and deter aggressors like China.
First of all it’s absolutely imperative that we secure Russia’s defeat in Ukraine. And it’s imperative for the sake of European security, freedom and democracy, and it’s the only way that we are going to achieve a lasting peace in Europe.
There are some who are saying that there could be some possibility of negotiations now whilst Russia is still in Ukraine, but I think that would bring a false peace and it would lead to further aggression in the future.
We have to learn the lessons of the past, the failures of the Minsk protocol for example, in being able to secure a lasting peace in the area. So my very strong message is we have to defeat Russia first, and negotiate later.
4 July 2022 - Truss: UK supports idea of confiscating Russian assets and transferring them to Ukraine.
17 July 2022 - UK's Defence Chief Tony Radakin Calls Russia 'biggest Threat' Faced By Britain: Reports
The UK's Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, said that the "challenge from Russia" will "endure way beyond 2022, 2023 and 2024."
A financial agreement was reached on Thursday to build the first power cable linking Britain and Germany, with construction set to begin later this year as the two countries work to reduce dependency on Russian gas and increase the use of green energy.
24 July 2022 - UK's Liz Truss Asserts Putin 'holding Rest Of The World To Ransom Over Gas Prices'
...days after donning camo to hang out with soldiers - as PM's allies press for him to be allowed to STAY on in No10 and minister says he would be 'comfortable if he returned to Government
Mr Johnson's spokesman would not say if he was visiting the Special Boat Service (SBS), based in Poole, or the Hereford Based Special Air Service (SAS)- whose motto is 'who dares wins'.
28 July 2022 - The Integrated Review, Defence in a Competitive Age and the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy
The MoD argues that the Integrated Review identified Russia as a threat and that the conclusions drawn have been reviewed but seem to be enduring. However, we have concerns that the MOD have not managed to assuage.
In oral evidence in June 2021, the Secretary of State set out what he perceived to be the most significant threats: Russia, China, terrorism and Iran. In November 2021, the National Security Adviser also highlighted the threats posed by Russia, China and terrorism as significant, and added CBRN proliferation and the development of advanced military weaponry to that list.
The Government has also pointed to the description in the Integrated Review documents of Russia as “the greatest nuclear, conventional military and sub-threshold threat to European security” (25 HL Deb,7 April 2022, col 2184)
29 July 2022 - Families must look at how to cut energy use this winter, says Ben Wallace
[M: Why is Defence minister talking about energy policies?]
2 August 2022 - Energy security amid Russia’s increased weaponization of energy: G7 foreign ministers’ statement
G7 foreign ministers and the EU High Representative issued a statement about energy security and resilience following Russia's illegal war against Ukraine.
We further condemn Russian attempts to weaponise its energy exports and use energy as a tool of geopolitical coercion. Russia is therefore not a reliable energy supplier. We will act in solidarity and close coordination to mitigate the impact of supply disruptions on economies and citizens globally and in our countries, especially in order to protect vulnerable groups. We are working to ensure Russia does not exploit its position as an energy producer to profit from its aggression at the expense of vulnerable countries. We will build on our recent actions to secure energy supplies, stabilise markets and mitigate the increases in energy prices driven by Russia’s actions and extraordinary market conditions. This includes our efforts to reduce our demand for Russian energy and our support for International Energy Agency voluntary collective actions. We remain committed to energy and resource diversification and promote competitive, reliable, affordable energy markets that are transparent and adhere to high environmental, social, and governance standards...
We will further reduce our reliance on civil nuclear and related goods from Russia, and assist countries seeking to diversify their supplies. In all these actions, we will support each other and coordinate our actions to preserve G7 unity and reinforce our collective energy security and resilience. We welcome efforts by partners with the aim of replenishing gas reserves and increasing energy security and resilience, amid Russia’s increased weaponization of energy. At the same time, we will continue our efforts with partners around the world to make energy savings and efficiency a global priority.
7 August 2022 - UK on brink of energy disaster as Norway could cut power to Britain over ‘lack of rain’
8 August 2022 - Norway threatens to ration electricity in fresh blow for UK and European energy supplies
Norway has drawn up plans to ration electricity exports in a move that has heightened fears of energy shortages in the UK and Europe this winter....
8 August 2022 - Energy companies urge UK to detoxify gas exports to EU
Businesses say ‘hazardous’ contaminants could force shutdown of subsea pipelines as supply crisis intensifies
Energy companies have urged the UK to take “urgent” action over the amount of “toxic” and “hazardous” contaminants in the gas it is processing for export to the EU.
They warned the problem could force critical subsea pipelines to be shut down this winter as mainland Europe struggles to replace the gas it usually buys from Russia.
To help these efforts, the UK has been processing large volumes of liquefied natural gas arriving at its ports from countries including the US and Qatar. This is then moved through Britain’s energy system before it is exported via subsea pipelines from Bacton in Norfolk to Belgium and the Netherlands.
But several energy companies warned that in recent months gas delivered to UK terminals has persistently been “contaminated” with high levels of materials that are often “radioactive” and can burn when they come into contact with the air.
Britain has been maximising exports to the EU this summer because in winter it relies on gas flowing back from mainland Europe, which has superior storage facilities, to meet demand at peak times.
National Grid has argued that if EU storage facilities are not filled enough this summer, pressure to continue sending gas from Britain will be “increased and sustained” during the winter. This could affect the UK’s security of supply.
17 August 2022 - UK: New maritime security strategy to address physical and cyber threats
UK launched a 5-year strategy to enhance maritime technology, innovation and security and reduce environmental damage.... The new strategy redefines maritime security as upholding laws, regulations and norms to deliver a free, fair and open maritime domain... In addition, to enhance the UK’s maritime security knowledge, the government has established the UK Centre for Seabed Mapping (UK CSM), which seeks to enable the UK’s world-leading seabed mapping sector to collaborate to collect more and better data.
24 August 2022 - ‘Ukraine can and will win this war,’ says Boris Johnson as he visits Kyiv on Ukraine’s Independence Day
24 August 2022 - Ukraine is a war zone. And a place Boris Johnson can get away from it all.
So Boris Johnson popped up in Ukraine on Wednesday.
In comments made next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Mariyinsky Palace, Johnson said Ukraine “can and will win this war.” Russian President Vladimir Putin had been “insane” to invade, he said, and added: “If we’re paying in our energy bills for the evils of Vladimir Putin, the people of Ukraine are paying in their blood.”
A street on the outskirts of Odessa was relabeled “Boris Johnson Street.”
Ukraine will be a major part of Johnson’s legacy.
24 August 2022 - The foreign secretary, Liz Truss, says that she is not afraid to use nuclear weapons if she becomes prime minister.
24 August 2022 - Britons must endure ‘short-term pain’ of energy bills so Putin is defeated, minister warns
Armed forces minister James Heappey admitted that a ‘really expensive winter lies ahead’ for many UK families
Millions of households in Britain must be ready for the “short-term pain” of high energy bills so Vladimir Putin is defeated in Ukraine and future threats from Russia and China are defused, a minister warned on Wednesday.
Armed forces minister James Heappey admitted that a “really expensive winter lies ahead” for many families in the UK and stressed the new Prime Minister’s “first priority” would be a bigger support package.
28 August 2022 - PM Boris Johnson: The next few months will be tough but I’m convinced Britain’s bounceback will be golden
We are ending our dependency on Russian hydrocarbons. In June, for the first time in decades, we did not import any fuel from Russia. The UK has already stepped up production of domestic gas – 26 per cent more this year than last. We are going to build a new reactor every year and will have a colossal 50 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030 – almost half our total electricity consumption. This British Energy Security Strategy is just a part of a vast programme to make the economy more productive and competitive.
30 August 2022 - Jacob Rees-Mogg meets energy giants in bid to boost North Sea oil and gas supplies
City A.M. understands the Brexit Opportunities Minister and Liz Truss-backer held talks with energy giants including Shell over recent days, ahead of a desperate winter which will see energy bills spike to new records – driven by fears of supply shortages.
He is also looking to seal deals with companies operating in the waters of friendly allies such as Norway.There is confusion over whether Rees-Mogg met oil and gas companies in his role as a Minister or as a supporter of Truss – with multiple Government departments refusing to comment.
Truss’ senior team has claimed the meetings were set up by civil servants, and was not linked to her campaign.
(Jacob Rees-Mogg - Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, in office 6 September 2022 – 25 October 2022).
31 Aug 2022 - Boris Johnson to visit nuclear submarine yard in latest stop on PM's farewell tour
1 September 2022 - Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a speech a Sizewell on the future of energy.
I’ll tell everybody who thinks hydrocarbons are the only answer and we should get fracking and all that that offshore wind is now the cheapest form of electricity in this country offshore wind is nine times cheaper than gas because of the insanity of what Putin has done
and that’s why it makes sense for us to become more self-reliant and of course it is entirely clean and green so renewables are not only helping us to defeat climate change they are also helping to keep bills lower than they would otherwise be in this crisis what Putin has done is to launch a kind of kamikaze attack on the world economy
He doesn’t care how much pain Russia suffers
He believes that ultimately we will flinch, that western politicians do not have the stomach for the fight
He believes that we will give up on Ukraine, give in to his aggression and go back to mainlining his hydrocarbons
And I have to tell you he is wrong
He is wrong about his assumptions about the British people
I think he is wrong about other European governments too by the way
I talked to Olaf Sholz last night and it is absolutely clear that Germany is resolute in moving away from dependence on Russian
And Putin in this strategy is going to fail
So we are helping people now with the cost of living and of course there will be more cash to come in the months ahead...
3 Sept 2022 - Zelensky exclusive: Threat from ‘Putin the Nazi’ outweighs pain of rising energy bills
The Ukrainian leader praises Boris Johnson, criticises Macron and Scholz and says western cost of living fears are ‘incomparable’ with the threat from Russia.
Volodymyr Zelensky refuses to talk about Boris Johnson in the past tense.
Under Johnson, Britain was one of the first nations to donate weapons to Ukraine as the countdown to the Russian invasion began last winter. While nervous European leaders dawdled, Johnson led the pack..
4 Sept 2022 - Zelenskiy Tells Europe To Prepare For Difficult Winter With Oil, Gas Supply Cuts
4 Sept 2022 - Zelenski warns that Russia is preparing a «decisive blow» in its energy offensive against Europe
Instead of tanks and missiles, Russia is using energy as a weapon, he said, and is preparing a "decisive blow" in the energy sector this winter.
[M: Does he know something?]
Russia’s gas supplies to Europe via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline will not resume in full until the “collective west” lifts sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin has said.Josep Borrell, the EU’s chief diplomat, on Monday acknowledged that certain political factions in the bloc wanted the EU to drop its support for Ukraine, push Kyiv into a ceasefire and abandon sanctions against Russia to ease economic pressure on European countries. He said those views were “not representative” of the position adopted by member states.
[...M: Is it possible that Germany wanted to restart the Nordstream?]
6 Sept 2022 - Liz Truss becomes new PM in UK.
Liz Truss did work for Shell as a commercial and finance analyst for a short period after graduating from university.According to Truss's LinkedIn profile and other sources, she worked at Shell from 1996 to 1997, after graduating from the University of Oxford with a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. During her time at Shell, Truss worked in the downstream division of the company, which deals with refining, distribution, and marketing of oil and gas products. As a commercial and finance analyst, she would have been involved in market analysis, financial planning, and commercial strategy development related to downstream operations. After leaving Shell in 1997, Truss went on to work for other companies in the energy and telecommunications industries, as well as in public policy and government positions.
6 Sept 2022 - 'As strong as the storm will be, Britain is stronger'
6 Sept 2022 - Liz Truss delivered her first speech as British prime minister on Tuesday after being formally invited by Queen Elizabeth II to form a government.
"I am confident that together we can ride out the storm"
Liz Truss delivered her first speech as British prime minister on Tuesday after being formally invited by Queen Elizabeth II to form a government.
The new prime minister said her top priorities are to cut taxes, boost energy security and improve the country's health care system.
"We shouldn't be daunted by the challenges we face," she said outside No. 10 Downing Street. "As strong as the storm may be, I know that the British people are stronger. Our country was built by people who get things done. We have huge reserves of talent, of energy and determination. I am confident that together we can ride out the storm."
[M: A post about warning before some storm is here]
6 Sept 2022 - Letters of last resort: PM’s early task to write to UK’s nuclear sub commanders
One of Liz Truss’s early tasks will be to write instructions by hand to each of Britain’s four nuclear submarine commanders, directing them how to respond in the event of an all-out attack that will have killed her and destroyed the UK. They are known as the letters of last resort.
But first, Truss will receive a briefing from Britain’s military chiefs on how the Trident nuclear deterrent operates – including the likely military and human consequences of authorising a retaliatory strike.
It is not necessary for Truss to write the letters immediately after the briefing; the new prime minister has time to reflect. The existing letters, written by Boris Johnson, can remain in force, most obviously for the submarine currently out at sea – at least one must be on patrol at all times for the nuclear deterrent to remain continuous.
7 Sept 2022 - Prime Minister Liz Truss's call with Chancellor Olaf Scholz: 7 September 2022
The Prime Minister spoke to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz this evening.
The leaders discussed the energy challenges faced by the UK and its European partners as a result of Putin’s illegal war. Both agreed on the importance of energy resilience and independence.
The Prime Minister underlined the importance of ensuring democracy and freedom were upheld in Europe, and of protecting countries made vulnerable by Russia’s economic blackmail.
7 Sept 2022 - I spoke to President @ZelenskyyUa this evening and...
... reiterated our steadfast support for Ukraine’s freedom and democracy. Russia's attempts to weaponise energy must not deter the West. Ukraine can depend on the UK for support in the long term
7 Sept 2022 - UK’s New Energy Chief Rees-Mogg Wants to Drill ‘Every Last Drop’
“We need to be thinking about extracting every last cubic inch of gas from the North Sea because we want security of supply,” Rees-Mogg said in a radio interview earlier this year. “We’re not trying to become net zero tomorrow and we are going to need fossil fuels in the interim and we should use ours that we have got available.”
7 Sept 2022 - New UK PM Truss Wants More North Sea Production
"I want to see us use more of our energy supply, including more oil and gas from the North Sea and nuclear power," she said.
A new Energy Supply Taskforce, led by Madelaine McTernan who headed up the UK’s successful Vaccine Taskforce, has begun negotiations with domestic and international suppliers to agree long-term contracts that reduce the price they charge for energy and increase the security of its supply.
The Taskforce and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will negotiate with renewable producers to reduce the prices they charge as well.
8 Sept 2022 - PM Liz Truss's opening speech on the energy policy debate
Firstly, by ramping up supply... we have created a new Energy Supply Taskforce under the leadership of Maddy McTernan. They are already negotiating new long term energy contracts with domestic and international gas suppliers to immediately bring down the cost of this intervention... We are also accelerating all sources of domestic energy, including North Sea oil and gas production... We will end the moratorium on extracting our huge reserves of shale, which could get gas flowing in as soon as six months, where there is local support.
9 Sept 2022 - Truss lifts ban on fracking, and will prop up fossil fuel companies in energy crisis
Europe is particularly reliant on Russian gas, with the nation supplying some 45% of the EU’s total gas imports last year. While imports from Russia made up just 4% of the UK’s total gas supply in 2021,...b ...plans, announced earlier this year, to diminish reliance on Russian imports by building a robust network of fuel suppliers across the US, the Netherlands and the Gulf
[M: Check link - 9 March 2022 - Statement on the phasing out of Russian oil imports]
10 Sept 2022 - Portrait of the week: Truss in, Johnson out and Nord Stream 1 off
Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister, said in a speech outside 10 Downing Street: ‘Boris Johnson delivered Brexit, the Covid vaccine and stood up to Russian aggression. History will see him as a hugely consequential prime minister.’ For her part: ‘I am confident that together we can ride out the storm.’
14 Sept 2022 - Joe Biden and UK’s Liz Truss agree on continued support for Ukraine, tackling energy crisis
“They agreed to redouble bilateral efforts to reduce energy dependence on Russia and to increase the amount of renewable and other forms of energy flowing from democratic states,” the spokesperson added.
17 Sept 2022 - Liz Truss warned of mass bankruptcies if firms left in limbo over energy bills
The Prime Minister highlighted the role of the ‘energy price guarantee’ scheme as pressure from struggling businesses mount
Hours after the end of the period of national mourning, Liz Truss said that high energy bills are a “price worth paying” to boost the UK’s energy security.
Liz Truss told reporters during her trip to the United Nations general assembly in New York: “The point I am making is that it’s a price worth paying for Britain because our long-term security is paramount.”
20 Sept 2022 - UK PM Liz Truss defends power bills hike, cites 'security', Russia-Ukraine crisis.
20 Sep 2022 - Liz Truss lands in US to reset ‘special relationship’ on first foreign trip as PM
“My message to the people of Ukraine is this: the UK will continue to be right behind you every step of the way. Your security is our security.”
She will also tell fellow leaders that they must put an end to Putin’s economic blackmail by removing all energy dependence on Russia.
“Too many lives – in Ukraine, in Europe and around the world – are being manipulated by a dependence on Russian energy. We need to work together to end this once and for all.”
Liz Truss will announce a new UK defence and foreign policy review on Wednesday, only 18 months after the last such analysis was concluded, to take account of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the threat posed by authoritarian regimes.
01:00 min: "...Geopolitics is entering a new era.."
06:00 min: "We are cutting off the toxic power and pipelines from authoritarian regimes and strengthening our energy resilience."
[M What kid of "cutting off" is this? Of UK cutting itself off, which has been done already or cutting EU off the RU gas? Note that in September 2021 the UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng told a parliamentary committee:
"We are not exposed to Russian supply as many of our EU counterparts are" ]
"We will ensure we cannot be coerced or harmed by the reckless actions of rogue actors abroad."
[M What kid of talk is this? That UK is ready to neuter any RU retaliation move?]"The free world needs this economic strength and resilience to push back against authoritarian aggression and win this new era of strategic competition.
We must do this together."
[M ?, looks to me as an appeal to people UK may have informed beforehand, IF UK is the culprit.]
We are fortifying our deep security alliances in Europe and beyond through NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force.
[M ? The JEF is made to be deployed in short time on an exercise.]
08:30 min: "The UK is providing funding, using the might of the City of London and our security capabilities to provide better alternatives to those offered by malign regimes.
The resolute international response to Ukraine has shown how we can deliver decisive collective action.
The response has been built on partnerships and alliances and also on being prepared to use new instruments – unprecedented sanctions, diplomatic action, and rapid military support.
There has been a strength of collective purpose – we have met many times, spoken many times on the phone, we have made things happen.
Now we must use these instruments in a more systematic way to push back on the economic aggression of authoritarian regimes.
The G7 and our like-minded partners should act as an economic NATO, collectively defending our prosperity.
If the economy of a partner is being targeted by an aggressive regime we should act to support them. All for one and one for all.
12:00 min "In all these areas, on all of the fronts, the time to act is now. This is a decisive moment in our history, in the history of this organization and in the history of freedom...
The story of 2022 could have been that of an authoritarian state rolling its tanks over the border of a peaceful neighbour and subjugating its people.
Instead, it is the story of freedom fighting back.
In the face of rising aggression we have shown we have the power to act and the resolve to see it through.
But this cannot be a one-off.
This must be a new era in which we commit to ourselves, our citizens, and this institution that we will do whatever it takes – whatever it takes to deliver for our people and defend our values."
Britain’s commitment to this is total.
We will be a dynamic, reliable and trustworthy partner.
[M: Whoever signed the STATE ACTOR mission had to have consistent narrative and real constant objections against it. The UK has been for years most vocal and their PM was even speaking at UN assembly against pipelines and RU carbohydrates just a 5 days before the attack on those pipelines.]
21 Sept 2022 - PM meeting with President Joe Biden: 21 September 2022
The Prime Minister met US President Joe Biden at the UN General Assembly in New York today.
The leaders stressed the need to end over-reliance on authoritarian states in terms of our energy, technology and manufacturing supply chains.
They agreed to redouble bilateral efforts to reduce energy dependence on Russia and to increase the amount of renewable and other forms of energy flowing from democratic states.
25 Sept 2022 - HMS Queen Elizabeth anchors in New York as Truss plans to strengthen UK-US bond
The Royal Navy’s flagship dropped anchor within sight of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbour on Sunday
26 Sept 2022 - According to the article, a phone hack revealed Truss sent a text to U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken a few minutes before the explosion saying “It’s done.”
28 Sept 2022 - Where is Liz Truss? Our prime minister has gone missing
[M: Missing in action from afternoom 23/09, just 3d before pipelines are attacked, ... after Nordstream on 26/09 ... objective failed? /s]
29 Sept 2022 - Liz Truss defends 'controversial and difficult decisions' in first public interview since mini-budget announcement
[M: The Minibudget announcement was on Friday 23/09/2022 here, so Liz Truss was missing from public view 3D before the Nordstream was attacked and 3D after the attack..]
29 Sept 2022 - UK Becomes Net Exporter of Electricity: Energy Update
30 Sept 2022 - US resident Joe Biden has said damage to Nord Stream was a deliberate act of sabotage.
[M: A post about who said first that it was a sabotage is here]
30 Sept 2022 - Russia could carry out attacks in space, warns British Armed Forces head Tony Radakin
Prime Minister Liz Truss to attend European leaders’ meeting in Prague to galvanise the response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Prime Minister will urge leaders to stand united in the face of Russian aggression as Europe faces “its biggest crisis since the Second World War”, when she addresses a regional summit in the Czech Republic today [6th October].
In a series of bilateral meetings and plenary sessions in Prague, the Prime Minister will encourage countries to go further and faster to end Europe’s reliance on Russian hydrocarbons and “usher in a new era of resilience and independence.”
She will call on leaders to commit at the summit to keeping gas and electricity interconnectors open this winter and is expected to hold talks on joint projects to develop new nuclear and offshore wind capacity.
[M: Well, the UK after Brexit was kicked out joint energy market. The destruction of Nordstream enables to get back in. Wind power could not be sold to EU markets unless WOULD EU be supplied by cheaper energy from Russia.]
6 Oct 2022 - PM Liz Truss: Time to find common cause with our European friends
Security, energy and migration are three of the most urgent priorities for the British people, so they are top of my agenda too. That’s why I am travelling to Prague for today’s European leaders’ meeting.
Today’s meeting is not an EU construct or an EU alternative. I am very clear about that. It brings together governments from across Europe, around a third of whom are outside the EU. A post-Brexit Britain, as an independent country outside the EU, should be involved in discussions that affect the entire continent and all of us here at home. We are taking part as an independent sovereign nation, and we will act as one.
Brexit was never about the UK stepping away from our proud and historic role as a leading nation in the region and beyond. We always believed we would find new ways of working that reflected our shared values and interests.
Our actions in Ukraine have shown this to be true. No European country has done more than the UK to arm the Ukrainians in their fight for freedom and to lead the imposition of economic sanctions on Russia. Yet our actions are all the stronger because of the way that we collaborated with our European friends.
6 Oct 2022 - Liz Truss: Ending European reliance on Russian energy...
and tackling the criminal gangs that traffic people across Europe are priorities that President @EmmanuelMacron and I share. Good to agree closer cooperation on these areas with our French friends today.
Prime Minister Liz Truss and President Emmanuel Macron met in the margins of the first Summit of the European Political Community in Prague.The President and the Prime Minister reaffirmed the strong and historic ties between their two countries. They agreed to hold the next UK-France Summit in 2023 in France to take forward a renewed bilateral agenda.
[M: why do allies need to ensure their friendship? What if UK blew up Nordstream where FRA is a shareholder? Would this explain the choice of the meeting words?]
Energy transition and decoupling from Russian hydro-carbons are common challenges. The Prime Minister and the President discussed advancing bilateral cooperation in particular on energy. They reaffirmed their belief that both renewable and nuclear energies are part of consistent strategies to achieve energy transition and strategic autonomy.
[M: Liz Truss words sinc with UK statements about ending European reliance on Russian hydrocarbons - post here]
They confirmed the full support of the UK and French Governments for the new nuclear power station at Sizewell and expect the relevant bodies to finalise arrangements in the coming month.
6 Oct 2022 - UK Gov: Meeting European leaders in Prague today,... the Prime Minister welcomed the strong show of unity against Russian aggression.The UK will continue to work with our allies to secure our energy supply, tackle people smuggling gangs and stand up to despots.
6 Oct 2022 - Prime Minister welcomes ‘powerful show of solidarity’ at European leaders’ meeting
Prime Minister Liz Truss said:
Leaders leave this summit with greater collective resolve to stand up to Russian aggression. What we have seen in Prague is a forceful show of solidarity with Ukraine, and for the principles of freedom and democracy.
The UK will continue to work with our allies to deliver on the British people’s priorities, including ending our reliance on authoritarian regimes for energy and reducing costs for families, tackling people smuggling gangs, and standing up to tyrants.
7 Oct 2022 - France is a friend, UK PM Liz Truss admits after ‘jury’s out’ campaign claimTruss met Macron for a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the president’s European Political Community meeting in Prague, aimed at bringing the continent together in the face of Russian aggression......She told UK broadcasters before Thursday’s meeting she had worked “very, very closely” with the president and the French government in Paris.
“We’re both very clear the foe is (Russian President) Vladimir Putin, who has through his appalling war in Ukraine threatened freedom and democracy in Europe and pushed up energy prices which we’re now all having to deal with,” she added.
7 Oct 2022 - Informal meeting of heads of state or government
Main results
EU leaders met in Prague to discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine and its impact on the energy situation in Europe, including its economic ramifications.
Remarks by President Charles Michel following the informal meeting of the EU heads of state or government in Prague
[M: Note that him and Ursula von der Leyen are, based on available data, prime suspects of cover-up as they were the very first to frame and define the attack as "sabotage" not the "terrorist attack". See my post about it here.]...This gives me the opportunity to say a word about yesterday’s meeting - a historic meeting because, for the first time, the countries of the European continent, 44 countries that share the same ambition to work together for peace, prosperity and stability, had the opportunity to meet for the first time in this new format......We have taken decisions to strengthen the sanctions imposed against Russia as we need to increase pressure on the Kremlin. In addition, both today and yesterday, we stressed the importance of reaching out to third countries in order to counter the Russian narrative....
...We have also had the opportunity today, in this informal meeting of the European Council, to address this fundamental issue of the energy situation. Let us be clear, we all understand that Russia has unleashed a war against the Ukrainian people, who are suffering from this war on a daily basis and who are courageously fighting for the values we share and for their own future, but also for the future of the European project and of Europe itself. Indeed, Russia has launched an energy missile against the European continent and the world. We are facing an energy crisis....[M: To sum it up... We are united... We impose more sanctions ... We are in energy crisis together... This looks to me like a joint decision / policy of a coordinated cover-up.]
We have had the opportunity to address three issues that we feel are extremely important and for which European action is indispensable. Firstly, it is important to take action to reduce consumption and demand. Initial decisions have been taken on the initiative of the European Commission, and thanks to the rapid work done by the Czech Presidency, we will continue to ensure that consumption is reduced.The second point is the question of security of supply. We have been working for some months now to ensure that stocks can be built up as much as possible. This is a good step, and it is important. Since before the summer, we have also been discussing the importance of gradually setting up platforms for the joint purchase of energy resources. We had the opportunity to revisit this subject today, and we perceived increasing support for continuing to make progress. Especially, for example, to be able to replenish stocks when it becomes necessary to do so again. This is one of the examples that were mentioned, for which the Commission has made proposals in its roadmap.
[M: Well, the UK has been really preparing for this day in advance, changing its energy security strategy several times, post Brexit and it paid out, it became net energy exporter later on. Considering it is a prime suspect of the sabotage this is, in my opinion, quite a reason to suspect EU top politicians for a treason]
The third element is the question of prices. This is having a painful impact on families and on households. It may also be painful for our businesses, and it has an economic impact. I would also like to say today that we felt a shared desire on the part of European leaders to be mobilised with a common ambition to reduce the price of energy resources and to work with the Council and the European Commission, so that this Council meeting must be seen today as a strategic step leading towards the next European Council, which should be an opportunity to move forward in terms of taking the required measures into consideration.[M: Families and households are collateral damage.]
Countering Russian narratives
Russia’s war against Ukraine is having huge consequences that go beyond Europe, including in terms of the global food security crisis. In this context, EU leaders stressed the importance of reaching out to third countries to counter Russian narratives and expressed their determination to support their partners across the world in addressing food security issues.
[M: So what if this was NOT Russia? Does it mean EU is actively pursuing a goal of covering-up?]
7 October 2022 - European Council President Charles Michel: Russia has launched an energy missile against the European continent and the world.
12 Oct 2022 - Putin says goal behind Nord Stream attack was to undermine continent’s energy security
Putin described the attack on the Nord Streams as "a most dangerous precedent." "It shows that any vital transport, energy or utility infrastructure is now in jeopardy regardless of where it is located or who operates it or whether those are subsea pipelines or ground-based ones."
15 Oct 2022 - The priority must be stability and a strong focus on
...reducing energy costs and financial stewardship. Liz Truss made a tough call today but the duty of a PM has to be security - both economic and national.
17 Oct 2022 - Why wasn't Liz Truss in Parliament? Penny Mourdant denies PM was 'cowering under her desk' as she was missing from urgent question
17 Oct 2022 - Keep calm Britain, Liz Truss isn’t hiding under a desk
Liz Truss had a ‘very good reason’ for a Commons no-show, but it’s a secret.
17 Oct 2022 - SEA MONSTER Putin’s city-killer sub Belgorod with Poseidon nuke drone seen just 270 miles from Nato border in chilling satellite pic
The Prime Minister spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron this afternoon.
The leaders discussed their deep concern at Russia’s recent barbaric attacks on civilian areas in Ukraine.
They agreed the UK and France will continue to work closely together with allies to support Ukraine and coordinate our response to Russian aggression.
The Prime Minister and President Macron also welcomed the recent opportunity to meet in person at the leaders’ summit in Prague, and looked forward to continuing to deepen bilateral cooperation.
[M: Speculation... Thank you for going along and not blowing us apart?.]
20 Oct 2022 - Prime Minister Liz Truss’s resignation statement
I came into office at a time of great economic and international instability.
Families and businesses were worried about how to pay their bills.
Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine threatens the security of our whole continent.
And our country had been held back for too long by low economic growth.
I was elected by the Conservative Party with a mandate to change this.
We delivered on energy bills and on cutting national insurance.
[M: After 44 years, after Nordstream destruction, the UK becomes energy net exporter]
23 Nov 2022 - Boris Johnson Causes A Stir With Claims About Europe’s Initial Response To Russian Aggression
23 Nov 2022 - “After all my anxieties...I pay tribute to the way the EU has acted. They have been united. The sanctions were tough.”
[M: Perhaps he has orchestrated the mission to cancel Nordstream?]
23 Nov 2022 - BBC - Ukraine war: How Germany ended reliance on Russian gas
15 Dec 2022 - Beyond Global Britain: A realistic foreign policy for the UK
The UK government’s vision for Global Britain aims to restore British greatness as a maritime trading nation. But this vision does not reflect today’s geostrategic realities, including the continuing importance of the EU.
The Johnson government seems to need the perennial fights of a permanent Brexit, but this approach is eroding the UK’s capacity to cooperate with the EU on foreign and security policy.
At the same time, as ECFR polling reveals, the British public do not have any particular animus towards the EU. While the public value British sovereignty and independence, they would support a foreign policy that worked cooperatively with the bloc.
The public is on to something: Britain still has extraordinary assets and can forge an effective foreign policy. Yet, to do so, it must focus on British strengths, avoid military adventures in distant lands, and find balanced, effective working relationships with the EU and the US.
British security and prosperity will increasingly depend on unromantic issues such as carbon tariffs and investment screening – on which the best way to protect British interests is to triangulate between the EU and US positions.
Shortly after the Greenwich speech, Johnson announced that his government would publish the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development, and Foreign Policy – which Downing Street described as “the largest review of the UK’s foreign, defence, security and development policy since the end of the Cold War”.
‘Global Britain’ was a title in search of a plot, which it was now time to back-fill. The review was published on 16 March 2021 as ‘Global Britain in a Competitive Age’.
To put this in context, the government’s economic forecaster puts the damage to GDP from Brexit at 4 per cent, or twice that of the pandemic. Total UK-EU goods trade was down by 15 per cent, or £17bn, in the second quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2018 (which the organisation used as a comparator). Although it is not easy to distinguish between the effects of Brexit and the pandemic, one estimate puts the reduction in the UK’s overall goods trade due to Brexit at 11 per cent. An academic analysis of the government’s figures concludes that, overall, new trade deals “barely scratch the surface of the UK’s challenge to make up the GDP lost by leaving the EU”.
13 Jan 2023 - Britain is a net electricity exporter for first time in 44 years
13 Jan 2023 - UK energy exports rise to meet European demand
21 Jan 2023 - Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Boris Johnson
26 Jan 2023 - Volodymyr Zelensky Says It Would Be A 'Pleasure' If Boris Johnson Was Ambassador To Ukraine
[M: In another news, the destruction of Nordstream forces Russia to use Ukrainian pipeline so Ukraine will get transfer fees which make some 3% of UA GDP according to UK study]
23 May 2023 - In Dallas, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson calls for Ukraine support
‘I’m here to say thanks, but also stick with it,’ Johnson said during a stop at The Dallas Morning News’ editorial board.
CONCLUSION/SUMMARY:
The vast amount of anti Nordstream statements by key UK politicians may be considered as circumstantial evidence of intent, but they would not be considered as conclusive evidence of responsibility for the attack.
In order to prove that the UK government or its officials were responsible for the attack, there would need to be direct evidence of their involvement or a credible admission of responsibility.
However, such statements could be used to support other evidence in the case.
Ultimately, any determination of responsibility would require a thorough investigation and examination of all available evidence even this one.
PREDICTIONs:
In the lack of key conclusive evidence which official investigators in SWE, DK, GER seem to have there will be plenty of fingerprints, clues, circumstantial evidence which could lead to UK as a main suspect.
Note about the post:
- Dates are web-links to official news sources.
- Text behind date is mainly c/p or straight headline. Context matters.
- This is no exhaustive list, if you stumble on a new I will gladly add it.
