Russian UN Ambassador Says Russia-EU Relations ‘No Longer Exist’

 

RT: Russia-EU relations ‘no longer exist’ – Moscow  

The bloc chose economic ruin to be a vassal of the US, Moscow’s envoy to the UN has said  

Relations between the European Union and Russia are practically nonexistent, consumed by the abyss of EU subservience to the US, the Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia told the Security Council on Thursday. 

Moscow had said in June 2022 that the “bottom had fallen out” when it came to relations with Brussels, Nebenzia said in his speech at the UN. 

“It turns out there was an entire abyss below still, that swallowed up not only our relations – which are basically nonexistent now – but also the EU itself,” he said. 

“A year after completely severing ties with our country, the GDP growth of the EU has stuck near zero. At the same time, record inflation rates are measured by double-digit indicators. Rejoicing that it jumped off the ‘Russian gas needle,’ the EU got hooked on ‘hard drugs’ – expensive American liquefied natural gas,” the Russian diplomat added.  

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WNU Editor: Saying relations "no longer exist" is an understatement. The only thing left is the closing of embassies, and if that happens, history tells us that the next step will be war.

Russia's Gazprom Cuts Nord Stream 1 Gas Flow To 20% Of Capacity

DW: Russia to cut Nord Stream 1 gas flow to 20% of capacity 

 Russia's Gazprom said it would again reduce gas deliveries through Nord Stream 1 for 'repairs,' cutting the current flow in half. The new blow to supply comes as Europe scrambles to store gas for winter. 

Russian gas giant Gazprom said Monday it was cutting daily gas deliveries via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to 33 million cubic metres starting Wednesday. 

That would correspond to 20% of the pipeline's capacity. The current flow of gas into Germany is only at 40%. 

Nord Steam 1 begins north of Saint Petersburg in Russia and ends at a station near Greifswald on Germany's northern Baltic Sea coast. 

The company said it was halting the operation of another turbine due to the "technical condition of the engine".  

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WNU Editor: Gazprom warned a week ago that pipeline repairs will hinder gas supplies .... Russia’s Gazprom warns Europe it cannot guarantee future supplies (AP). More here .... Kremlin: Nord Stream 1 Turbine to be Installed, Volumes will Adjust (Asharq Al-Awsat).  

Update: European natural gas prices have already jumped 10% on this news .... Europe Gas Prices Jump as Gazprom Cuts Nord Stream Flows Further (Bloomberg). 

Russia's Gazprom Cuts Nord Stream 1 Gas Flow To 20% Of Capacity  

Gazprom to cut gas through Nord Stream 1 to 20% of capacity -- AP 

Russia's Gazprom tightens squeeze on gas flow to Europe -- Reuters  

Russia's Gazprom slashes Nord Stream 1 gas flow to Europe -- Axios 

Russia’s Gazprom to slash gas to Germany, as Putin fosters uncertainty in Europe -- Washington Post  

Gazprom Stops Another Siemens Turbine, Limits Daily Deliveries Via Nord Stream to 33Mcm -- Sputnik

  Gazprom to halt another Nord Stream turbine — company -- TASS  

Russia’s Gazprom to stop another turbine in major gas project -- RT

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Says The West Is Imposing A New ‘Iron Curtain’

Russian FM Sergey Lavrov and Belarus FM Vladimir Makei in Minsk, June 30, 2022 © Belta/RIA Novosti  

Fortune: ‘From now on, we will trust neither the Americans nor the EU’: Lavrov says a new Iron Curtain is coming down between Russia and the West 

Back to the Cold War it is, then. A new Iron Curtain is descending between Russia and the West, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday. 

“From now on, we will trust neither the Americans nor the EU,” Lavrov said at a press conference after talks with his Belarusian counterpart, Vladimir Makei. 

“We will do everything necessary not to depend on them in critically important industries.” Lavrov was concurring with comments made by Makei, regarding the appearance of a new Iron Curtain that was “being erected by Westerners themselves.” In echoing the Belarusian diplomat, Lavrov warned Western countries to “behave carefully.”

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Russian Foreign minister Lavrov Says The West Is Imposing A New ‘Iron Curtain’ 

Russia warns of new ‘Iron Curtain’ -- RT 

New ‘Iron Curtain’ Descending Between Moscow and the West – Russian Minister -- Moscow Times  

A new ‘iron curtain’ is descending between Russia and the west, Russia’s foreign minister says – as it happened -- The Guardian  

New ‘iron curtain’ descending between Russia and West: Lavrov -- Al Jazeera

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Says The EU & NATO Appear To Be Forming A Bloc To Wage War Against Russia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov © Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service/TASS  

Newsweek: Kremlin Official Sees NATO Preparing for War With Russia 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday said he believes NATO and the European Union (EU) are building a coalition that could eventually wage war with Russia. 

Russia state media outlets reported Lavrov made the comments while speaking at a news conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, following a meeting with Jeyhun Bayramov, Azerbaijan's minister of foreign affairs. 

During the conference with reporters, Lavrov discussed the EU's Thursday decision to grant candidacy status to Ukraine and Moldova. The move by the EU, which is the first step in the process to full membership, was seen as sign of support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. (Both Ukraine and Moldova applied to join the union soon after Russia began its attacks on Ukraine in late February.)  

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WNU Editor: Not an optimistic view from the Russian Foreign Minister on the possibility of peace talks .... Russia warns of conditions for resuming Ukraine peace talks (RT). 

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Says The EU & NATO Appear To Be Forming A Bloc To Wage War Against Russia  

Europe’s coalition against Russia and Kiev’s EU candidate status: Lavrov in Baku -- TASS  

Lavrov: EU & NATO Seem To Be Forming Bloc for War With Russia -- Sputnik  

EU & NATO Appear To Be Forming A Bloc For War Against Russia: Lavrov -- Zero Hedge  

Lavrov compares EU and NATO with Hitlers Germany -- Ukrayinska Pravda

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Forced To Cancel Serbia Visit After Three Neighboring Countries Close Airspace

 

Politico.eu: Russia’s Lavrov forced to cancel Serbia visit after neighboring countries close airspace  

Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro closed their sky to Putin’s foreign minister.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to Serbia Monday has been canceled, Russia's state-run Interfax press agency reported Sunday, after neighboring countries reportedly closed their airspace to his plane. 

Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro had all banned Lavrov's plane from their airspace, Serbian newspaper Danas reported. 

"Our diplomacy has yet to master teleportation," a Russia foreign ministry source quipped to Interfax. The three countries banned Russian flights from their airspace as the results of sanctions against Moscow, which has waged war on Ukraine. But at least one exception was made in April, when a Russian place flew through Bulgaria to pick up Russian diplomats from Serbia.  

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WNU Editor: Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic has responded to this airspace ban .... Vucic expresses dissatisfaction with circumstances of cancellation of Lavrov's visit (TASS). 

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Forced To Cancel Serbia Visit After Three Neighboring Countries Close Airspace 

Lavrov slams some NATO members' decision not to let his plane into Serbia as unprecedented -- TASS  

Russian FM reacts to being barred from foreign visit -- RT 

Lavrov Says Countries Blocking His Flight to Serbia Deprive Belgrade of Its Sovereignty -- Sputnik  

Russia's Lavrov calls decision to block plane 'unprecedented' -- Reuters 

NATO nations block Russian envoy's plane from Serbia visit -- AP  

Ukraine war: Bulgaria, Montenegro and North Macedonia slammed for stopping Lavrov's visit to Serbia -- Euronews

EU Drafts Plan That will Permit European Gas Companies To Buy Russian Natural Gas

Bloomberg: EU Drafts Plan for Buying Russian Gas Without Breaking Sanctions 

(Bloomberg) -- The European Union is set to offer its gas importers a solution to avoid a breach of sanctions when buying fuel from Russia and still effectively satisfy President Vladimir Putin’s demands over payment in rubles. 

In new guidance on gas payments, the European Commission plans to say that companies should make a clear statement that they consider their obligations fulfilled once they pay in euros or dollars, in line with existing contracts, according to people familiar with the matter. 

The EU’s executive arm told the governments that the guidance does not prevent companies from opening an account at Gazprombank and will allow them to purchase gas in accordance with EU sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the people added.  

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Update: EU creates plan to bypass Russian gas sanctions - report (Jerusalem Post)  

Update #2: EU drafts sanctions busting Russian gas plan – Bloomberg (RT)  

WNU Editor: The EU had no choice. Most EU gas companies were already accepting the Kremlin's demand on how to pay for Russian gas, openly ignoring the EU's sanction guidelines. This draft EU plan is only being put forward to save face in Brussels.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Claims Moscow Now Has ‘No Relations’ With EU

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov talks to the media in the second day of his two-day meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, March 23, 2021. © Sputnik / Russian Foreign Ministry 

Moscow Times: Russian Foreign Minister Says EU ‘Destroyed’ Relations with Moscow 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused European Union leaders of “destroying” relations with Moscow, the state-run TASS news agency reported Tuesday. 

“There are no relations with the European Union as an organization.

The entire infrastructure of these relations has been destroyed by the unilateral decisions of Brussels,” Lavrov was quoted as saying during a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. 

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Update #1: Moscow now has ‘no relations’ with EU because Brussels has ‘destroyed’ once friendly ties, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov claims -- RT 

Update #2: Moscow has no relations with EU as organization today, Lavrov says (TASS). 

WNU Editor: In a phone call earlier today, both European Council President Charles Michel and Russian President Putin agreed that relations between the EU and Russia are “at a low point” with disagreements in “many areas” .... European Council President Tells Putin EU-Russian Relations At 'Low Point' (RFE). More here .... EU-Russia relations are 'at a low point': EU's Michel (Reuters).

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Says Russia 'Ready' For A Break In Relations With The EU

 

CNBC: Russia says it’s ready to end ties with the European Union 

 * “We don’t want to isolate ourselves from global life, but we have to be ready for that. If you want peace then prepare for war,” Lavrov added. 

 * The relationship between Russia and the EU hit a new low last week when the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, visited his counterpart in Moscow. 

 * Analysts have told CNBC that the latest differences between Moscow and the EU could put pressure on the gas pipeline being built from Russia to Germany, Nord Stream 2. 

LONDON — Russia has said it is ready to cut ties with the European Union, according to a fragment of an interview published on Russia’s foreign ministry website Friday morning. The comments mark yet another escalation in tensions between the two sides. 

When asked if Russia was heading for a break with the European Union, Russia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov said: “We proceed from the fact that we are ready (for that). In the event that we again see sanctions imposed in some sectors that create risks for our economy, including in the most sensitive spheres,” according to a translation of the comments by Reuters. 

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WNU Editor: The Kremlin is pulling back from the Foreign Minister's remarks .... Kremlin says media misinterpreted Lavrov’s remarks about break-up with EU (TASS). More here .... Kremlin says Russia wants to improve ties with EU, not break them off, but must prepare for worst as Brussels threatens sanctions (RT). 

 More News On Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Saying Russia Is 'Ready' For A Break In Relations With The EU 

Russia ready to cut ties with EU if Brussels initiates it, Lavrov says -- TASS 

Russia says it's ready for split if EU imposes new sanctions -- FOX News/AP 

Kremlin warns of EU split if hit with sanctions -- Reuters 

Russia 'Ready To Cut Ties' With EU If Sanctions Threat Carried Out -- RFE 

Russia 'ready' for a break in relations with the EU, says Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov -- Euronews Russia says it is ready to cut ties with the EU if it is hit with economic sanctions, as minister warns: 'If you want peace, prepare for war' -- Daily Mail

Recent Meeting Between The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy And Russia's Foreign Ministry Was A Disaster

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell (L) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (R) hold a joint press conference following their meeting in Moscow, Russia on February 5, 2021. (Photo by Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) 

CNBC: How the EU’s icy relationship with Russia plunged to a new low — and why it matters 

 * “My meeting with minister Lavrov highlighted that Europe and Russia are drifting apart,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. 

 * His trip was so poorly received that a group of 73 European lawmakers said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen “should take action, if Borrell does not resign by his own accord.” 

 * The links between the EU and Russia have been fractious for some time, but their ties are critical given their shared economic, energy and strategic interests. 

LONDON — A recent press conference between the EU’s top diplomat and Russia’s foreign minister demonstrated diplomatic ties have plunged to a new low, prompting some analysts to question whether the “humiliating” trip could lead to further political consequences. 

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell visited Moscow on Friday to voice the EU’s opposition to the arrest of Alexei Navalny, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

However, Borrell failed to rebuff his Russian counterpart’s comments when standing next to him at the press conference. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had claimed the EU was an “unreliable partner.” 

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WNU Editor: There are two problems with the EU when it comes to Russia. One .... the EU has no strategy when it comes to dealing with Russia. Two .... there is a difference in opinion among EU member states on dealing with Russia. Some are calling for sanctions, while others (like Germany) are expanding their commercial interests.