German Tabloid Bild Says European Intelligence Thinks Russia Might Attack Europe During The Winter Of 2024-2025 If The U.S. Finds Itself "Without A Leader" Following The 2024 U.S. Presidential Election

Dagens: European Intelligence Warns of Potential Russian Attack on Europe in Winter 2024-2025 

According to a report by the German newspaper Bild, European intelligence sources have raised concerns that Russia may launch an attack on Europe during the winter of 2024-2025. 

This potential aggression is contingent on the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, particularly if the United States finds itself "without a leader" following the election.  

The Presidential Transition Period as a Window of Opportunity 

The intelligence source suggests that Russia could seize the opportunity during the three-month presidential transition period in the U.S., spanning from the November 2024 election to the inauguration in January 2025. 

The risk is heightened if President Joe Biden does not secure re-election and former President Donald Trump, known for his criticism of aid levels to Kyiv, is re-elected. 

Read more ....  

Update #1: Bild: Russia may attempt to attack Europe next winter, European intelligence source says (Kyiv Independent)

Update #2: German tabloid says European intelligence thinks Russia might attack Europe next winter (Ukrainska Pravda) 

 WNU Editor: The message from Germany's Bild (and its sources) is very clear. If Trump is elected in 2024, Russia will attack Europe.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Says The OSCE Is ‘On The Brink Of Abyss’. Western Diplomats Walk Out

 

Euronews: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov lashes out at NATO and the West  

Lavrov told a meeting of OSCE ministers in North Macedonia that the organisation was an "appendage" of NATO and the EU, before walking out. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov lashed out at NATO, the EU, Ukraine and the West during a fiery speech on Thursday. 

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Lavrov derided the international body as an "appendage" of the EU and NATO. He also blamed “NATO’s reckless expansion to the East” for war returning to Europe before tearing into the OSCE itself.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: There is no common ground right now between Russia and the West. 

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Says The OSCE Is ‘On The Brink Of Abyss’. Western Diplomats Walk Out  

Russia's foreign minister faces Western critics at security meeting and walks out after speech -- AP  

Russia's Lavrov Addresses OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting -- Sputnik

 OSCE ‘on the brink of abyss’ – Lavrov -- RT  

US, EU sanctions war against Russia 'shut door' on cooperation — Lavrov -- TASS 

Lavrov calls attempts to fast-track EU admission of Zelensky-run Ukraine shameful -- TASS  

OSCE Understands Impossible to Discuss Europe’s Fate Without Russia -- Sputnik

Russia's European Neighbours Have Banned Passenger Cars With Russian License Plates

Motor vehicles registered in the Russian Federation are no longer allowed to enter the territory of the 27-member bloc. Image: Ivan Noyabrev/TASS/dpa/picture alliance  

Moscow Times: Moscow’s Last European Neighbor to Ban Russian Cars 

Norway will be the last European nation that borders Russia to ban Russian-registered vehicles amid an uproar over an EU directive on import restrictions. 

Over the past week, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland have implemented bans on passenger vehicles with Russian license plates. 

“Norway will introduce restrictions on importing and using Russian-registered cars in Norway,” Eivind Vad Petersson, Norway’s Foreign Ministry state secretary, said Tuesday.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The first countries to ban Russian cars were the Baltic states .... Baltic states shut borders to Russia-registered cars (DW). This was followed by Finland .... Finland joins Baltic neighbors in banning Russian-registered cars from entering their territory (The Independent), and then followed by Poland .... Poland imposes EU ban on all Russian-registered passenger cars (AP). And now Norway .... Norway to join Poland, Finland, and Baltic countries in banning vehicles with Russian license plates (Meduza). 

Sighhh .... 

I am old enough to remember when the West condemned the former Soviet Union for imposing the Iron Curtain on Europe. Decades later, it is the West that is now imposing "a curtain:

Russian President Putin Says 'F*** NATO' On NATO Nuclear Weapon Requests

Speaking at Russia's flagship economic forum in St Petersburg, Putin told those gathered that the first warheads had arrived in the country, but that this was only 'the first part' of the planned delivery  

Daily Mail: Vladimir Putin tells West to 'go to hell'as despot confirms that nuclear weapons have been moved to Belarus as a precaution for 'anyone thinking of inflicting a strategic defeat' on Russia 

* Lukashenko said Belarus has started receiving Russian tactical nuclear weapons 

* It is Moscow's first move of such bombs outside Russia since fall of Soviet Union 

President Putin told the West to 'go to hell' on nuclear arms reduction as he confirmed he has moved nuclear weapons into Belarus, claiming it is a precautionary measure for 'anyone thinking of inflicting a strategic defeat' on Russia. 

 Speaking at Russia's flagship economic forum in St Petersburg, Putin told those gathered that the first warheads had arrived in the country, but that this was only 'the first part' of the planned delivery. 

 He added: 'Just talking about this (the potential use of nuclear weapons) lowers the nuclear threshold. We have more than NATO countries and they want to reduce our numbers. Go to hell.'  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The Western press is saying Putin said 'go to hell'. Not really. I saw the video on what he said. He said the equivalent of 'f*** NATO' in Russian. This is the first time I have ever seen or heard Putin swear like this.

Russian President Putin Says 'F*** NATO' On NATO Nuclear Weapon Requests  

Vladimir Putin tells West to 'go to hell'' on nuclear arms reduction -- The Telegraph  

Putin warns NATO over being drawn into Ukraine war, says Russia has more nuclear weapons -- CNN  

Putin says 'f*** them' in response to NATO member countries' nuclear weapons request -- Daily Star  

Putin tells Nato to 'go to hell' as Russia deploys nukes and issues F-16 threat -- Express 

In a warning to the West, Putin says Russian tactical nukes are being put in Belarus to stop a 'strategic defeat' -- Insider

Report Says Russia Has A Plan To Sabotage European Wind Farms, Gas Pipelines, And Internet Cables

Russian Navy research vessel "Admiral Vladimirsky" outside St.Petersburg, Russia in July 2020. The ship is now accused of spying for Russia. Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP  

Insider: Russia has a plan to sabotage European wind farms, gas pipelines, and internet cables, report say 

* Russia has been using ships to spy in Nordic waters, a joint investigation by four countries' public broadcasters found. 

* They are collecting intel on wind farms, gas pipelines, and power and internet cables, report said. 

* Norway's NRK reported at least 50 Russian ships gathered intelligence there in the last ten years. 

Russia is surveying the North Sea to find possible targets that could sabotage the energy infrastructure of Nordic countries, according to a new investigation. 

Targets include wind farms, gas pipelines, and power and internet cables, a joint-report by public broadcasters in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway found. Sources told Finland's YLE, Sweden's SVT, Denmark's DR, and Norway's NRK that Russia is using civilian and military ships to scan the bottom of the sea near the four countries. 

The outlets also tracked dozens of Russian research and fishing ships, and reported that they regularly went key energy infrastructure.  

Read more .... 

Report Says Russia Has A Plan To Sabotage European Wind Farms, Gas Pipelines, And Internet Cables  

Nordic news outlets: Russian yachts, cargo ships spy at sea -- AP  

Fleet of Russian spy ships has been gathering intelligence in Nordic waters, investigation finds -- CNN  

Russian spy network operating in North Sea, investigation claims -- The Guardian  

Nordic news outlets: Russian yachts, cargo ships spy at sea -- Seattle Times  

Russian spy ships in plot to sabotage Europe's energy -- The Telegraph  

Russia is using 'ghost' spy ships off UK coast to map out North Sea wind farms for sabotage attacks -- Daily Mail  

Russia uses civilian boats to spy in the North Sea, joint report says -- Politico.eu

NATO Monitoring Russian Activity Near Norway’s Oil And Gas Pipelines

 

NBC News: Norway watches as Russian subs and aircraft step up Arctic patrols 

ABOARD THE KV SORTLAND — NATO ally Norway has announced that it is boosting the number of naval patrols near vital undersea gas pipelines off its coast, and released a trove of videos exclusively to NBC News illustrating what it sees as a growing Russian threat in the Arctic. 

The videos provided by the Royal Norwegian Air Force capture the high-stakes cat-and-mouse game between the two militaries, with Russian attack submarines patrolling near a maze of undersea pipelines carrying vast amounts of natural gas to Europe and telecommunication cables linking Europe and America. 

According to the head of the Royal Norwegian Navy, the videos indicate that Russian attack submarines and planes have expanded their presence in the High North, operating near Norway’s natural gas pipelines that represent a vital energy lifeline for Europe. 

Read more ....  

Update: Caught ‘Red Handed’! Russian Nuke Submarine ‘Snooped’ On Critical US-Europe Gas & Telecom Pipeline (EurAsian Times)  

WNU Editor: Norway is deploying its forces .... Norway to redeploy military to protect North Sea assets (Energy Voice).

Russia To Withdraw From The 21 Treaties And Charters Related To The Council Of Europe

A view of European flags floating in front of the Council of Europe building in Strasbourg, eastern France, on April 8, 2014. © FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP  

RT: Russia moves to end European treaties 

Moscow is set to renounce charters and treaties related to the Council of Europe 

President Vladimir Putin asked the Russian lawmakers on Tuesday to adopt a law that would formally end the country’s participation in 21 treaties and charters related to the Council of Europe. Moscow withdrew from the human rights body last March, saying it was captured by the US and its allies in service of Western political objectives. 

Putin has formally submitted the bill on terminating the treaties to State Duma chair Vyacheslav Volodin, following the provisions of a 1995 federal law.   

Read more ....  

Update #1: Putin proposes to denounce Statute of Council of Europe, conventions on human rights (TASS)  

Update #2: Russia To Consider CoE's International Treaties Terminated From March 16, 2022 - Draft Law (UrduPoint/Sputnik)  

WNU editor: This is unfortunate but not surprising.

EU Parliament Declares Russia A 'State Sponsor' Of Terrorism

 

Politico: European Parliament declares Russia a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ as Putin launches fresh attacks on Ukraine  

The EU Parliament declaration is symbolic but it does call for new sanctions and further isolation of Russia. 

KYIV — The European Parliament on Wednesday adopted a resolution declaring Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism because of Moscow’s strikes on civilian targets, at the same time as Kyiv’s military administration reported three people were killed and half a dozen injured in a Russian missile strike on Ukraine’s capital. 

“The deliberate attacks and atrocities committed by Russian forces and their proxies against civilians in Ukraine, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and other serious violations of international and humanitarian law amount to acts of terror and constitute war crimes,” the Parliament said. 

The resolution was adopted with 494 votes in favor, 58 against and 44 abstentions.  

Read more .... 

 EU Parliament Declares Russia A 'State Sponsor' Of Terrorism  

European Parliament declares Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, article with video -- Reuters  

EU lawmakers name Russia a 'state sponsor' of terrorism -- DW  

European Parliament Recognizes Russia as a State Sponsor of Terror -- Moscow Times  

European Parliament declares Russia ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ -- Al Jazeera 

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy thanks EU for declaring Russia a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ -- AP

EU Parliament To Vote On Wednesday To Label Russia A 'State Sponsor Of Terror'

Anadolu Agency: European Parliament to vote on resolution naming Russia ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ 

Voting will take place on Nov. 23, says EP spokesperson European Parliament will vote on a resolution on Nov. 23 that will designate Russia a “state sponsor of terrorism,” a parliament spokesperson said Friday. 

“On Wednesday, members will be voting on a resolution dubbing Russia a country sponsor for terrorism given massive step up of Russian attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine,” said Delphine Colard during a press briefing.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The expectation is that this resolution will pass .... MEPs set to declare Russia a state sponsor of terrorism (News European Parliament). 

This is an incredibly dangerous development. This will kill all relations between the EU and Russia. It will also lay the groundwork for some of NATO's EU members (Poland and the Baltic states) to invoke Article 4, which Russia will regard as a step towards invoking Article 5 .... a declaration of hostilities between NATO and Russia. 

I do not think the US will join in passing such a resolution. To do so will kill all back-channels to make sure that there will be no nuclear escalation.

To say that this crisis is continuing to escalate and spiral out of control is an understatement. 

EU Parliament To Vote On Wednesday To Label Russia A 'State Sponsor Of Terror'  

EU Parliament close to Russia ‘terrorism’ designation, Sunak in Kyiv with $60 million gift -- The New Voice Of Ukraine  

European Parliament To Vote On Resolution To Declare Russia 'state Sponsor Of Terrorism' -- Republic World  

European Parliament to Vote on Whether To Designate Russia as State Sponsor of Terrorism on 23 November -- European Pravda  

Russia branded as state sponsor of terrorism in European Parliament draft resolution -- New Vocie Of Ukraine

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde Blames Putin For Europe's Inflation. Calls Him Sick And Driven By Evil Forces

 

Politico: Lagarde: ‘Sick’ Putin behind Europe’s inflation crisis 

ECB chief describes Russian president’s ‘flashing, freezing eyes’ in RTE interview. 

The European Central Bank is having to raise interest rates because of inflation caused by Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, ECB President Christine Lagarde said.

"That's what he [Putin] is trying to do, cause chaos and destroy as much of Europe as he can," Lagarde said during an appearance on RTE's Late Late Show in Ireland. 

"This energy crisis is causing massive inflation which we have to defeat," she said. 

"Anybody who is behaving in that way has to be driven by evil forces," said Lagarde of Putin, adding that the "sick" Russian president is a "terrifying person."  

Read more ....  

Update: 'Terrifying' Putin Driven by 'Evil Forces,' ECB's Lagarde Says (Bloomberg)  

WNU Editor: European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is also making it very clear that European interest rates are going to continue to rise .... ECB must keep raising rates even if recession risks rise, Lagarde says (Reuters).

EU's Foreign Policy Chief Says Russia's Army Will Be 'Annihilated' If It Launches A Nuclear Attack On Ukraine

Sweden's Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist, European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Finland's Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen gather during a NATO defence ministers meeting at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium  

Daily Mail: Russia's army will be 'annihilated' by the West's non-nuclear military response if Putin uses nukes against Ukraine, warns EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell 

* Fears that Moscow could use a nuke have grown after Putin issued veiled threats 

* NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has warned Russia of 'severe consequences' 

* Alliance has stopped short of threatening to use its nuclear arsenal to respond 

* This is because Ukraine is not covered by NATO's mutual self-defence clause 

Russian forces would be 'annihilated' by the West's military response if Vladimir Putin uses nuclear weapons against Ukraine, the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned Moscow on Thursday. 

At the opening of a Diplomatic Academy in Belgium, Borrell said: 'Putin is saying he is not bluffing. 

Well, he cannot afford bluffing, and it has to be clear that the people supporting Ukraine and the European Union and the Member States, and the United States and NATO are not bluffing neither. 

'Any nuclear attack against Ukraine will create an answer, not a nuclear answer but such a powerful answer from the military side that the Russian Army will be annihilated.'  

Read more ....  

WNU editor: If the Russian army was "annihilated", expect a widespread nuclear response nuclear war. 

EU's Foreign Policy Chief Says Russia's Army Will Be 'Annihilated' If It Launches A Nuclear Attack On Ukraine  

The Russian army will be 'annihilated' if it launches a nuclear attack, warns Josep Borrell -- Euronews  

EU warns Russian army will be ‘annihilated’ if Putin uses nuclear weapon on Ukraine -- AFP  

European Union senior chief warns Vladimir Putin it is 'not bluffing neither' and will respond to a Ukraine nuclear attack -- SKY News

Russia's Gazprom Announces Indefinite Shutdown Of Nord Stream 1 Pipeline

Gazprom said a leak was detected in a turbine at the Portovaya compressor station near Vyborg outside St. Petersburg, Russia  

RT: Nord Stream gas supply to EU stopped indefinitely – Russia's Gazprom  

The flow will not be restored on schedule due to a turbine failure, Gazprom says 

Russian energy giant Gazprom announced on Friday the suspension of natural gas supplies to the EU via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, for an indefinite period, due to technical malfunctions. 

The pipeline was supposed to restart on September 3 following repairs to its sole operating turbine. 

According to the company, it received a warning from Russia’s industrial regulator Rostekhnadzor about the turbine failure. The problems were reportedly detected during scheduled maintenance work, and the pipeline will not be able to operate without proper repairs, according to Gazprom.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: There are some reports saying that Nord Stream 1 will be reopened this weekend. I guess we will know for sure by Monday. 

Russia's Gazprom Announces Indefinite Shutdown Of Nord Stream 1 Pipeline  

Live: Russia won't reopen key European gas line as planned -- BBC  

Russia’s Gazprom keeps gas pipeline to Germany switched off -- AP  

Russia's Gazprom says gas flows to Europe will stay shut after G7 agreed price cap to choke Putin's war machine -- SKY News  

Nord Stream 1: Russia's Gazprom announces indefinite shutdown of pipeline -- DW  

Russian gas supplies to Europe 'cannot operate safely' -- RTE

Gazprom: Nord Stream 1 Gas to Stay Shut Until Fault Fixed, 'Workshop Conditions Needed' -- Reuters

EU Agrees To Suspend Russia Visa Deal But Will Stop Short Of A Full Tourist Ban

 

DW: EU foreign ministers agree to suspend Russian visa accord 

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell says EU foreign ministers have agreed to suspend the bloc's visa facilitation agreement with Russia over Moscow's war in Ukraine. 

EU foreign ministers have agreed to suspend a 2007 visa facilitation agreement with Russia over the country's war in Ukraine, top EU diplomat Josep Borrell announced on Wednesday.

"This will significantly reduce the number of new visas issued by the EU member states. 

It's going to be more difficult, it's going to take longer," Borrell said at the end of a two-day meeting of foreign ministers in Prague.  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: How times have changed. During the Cold War the Soviet Union put up the Iron Curtain to keep its citizens within it's borders. Flash forward to today. Europe is putting up a "new curtain" to keep Russian citizens within its borders.

EU Agrees To Suspend Russia Visa Deal But Will Stop Short Of A Full Tourist Ban  

EU foreign ministers agree to scrap Russia visa deal but stop short of full tourist ban -- Euronews  

EU will suspend agreement with Russia that eases visa issuance - Hungary minister -- Reuters 

EU countries torn over Russian tourist visa ban move -- AP  

European Union to Restrict Visas for Russian Citizens -- WSJ

EU Nations Move To Bar Russian Citizens From Entering Their Countries

A visa center in Moscow. Gleb Schelkunov / Kommersant  

Republic World: Poland Preparing Mechanism For EU-wide Tourist Visa Ban On Russians Amid War In Ukraine  

European Union foreign ministers are expected to hold a meeting to discuss the possible visa restrictions for Russian citizens at the end of August. 

Poland on Sunday, Aug 14 announced that it is working on a proposal to ban Russian citizens from entering the country under tourist visas in support of Estonia, Finland, the Czech Republic and other EU member states. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Piotr Vavzyk, told Polish Radio that Poland is in favour of more sanctions as well as a Russian tourist ban across the entire EU in an attempt to punish the Russian Federation for invading Ukraine. While Warsaw agrees on the enactment of a total suspension of the visa regime for citizens of the Russian Federation, major EU members are against it, said Vavzyk.  

“Major member states, including Germany, France and the Netherlands, are against it. Due to the fact that it is impossible to overcome the resistance of these countries regarding the suspension of the agreement on visa facilitation for citizens of the Russian Federation, Poland is working on a new solution," Vavzyk told the Polish broadcaster.  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Russians are now scrambling for EU visas .... Russians Scramble for Visas as EU Mulls Travel Restrictions . More here .... Russian Demand For Schengen Visa Surges Amid Calls For European Travel Ban (RFE). 

EU Nations Move To Bar Russian Citizens From Entering Their Countries  

‘The west doesn’t want Russians partying in the streets of Europe’: calls grow for a visa ban -- The Guardian 

Finland will slash Russian visas by 90 percent -- Politico  

Finland limits visas to Russians amid rush of Europe-bound tourists -- Reuters  

EU could give Russians 'humanitarian' visas only, Lithuanian FM says -- DW  

Estonian visa cancellation has ordinary Russians worried -- Reuters  

Latvia Stops Issuing Entry Visas to Russian Citizens -- Schengenvisa  

Russia Visa Ban in EU Wins Key Backing From Czech Presidency -- Bloomberg

Russia Slaps Retaliatory Sanctions On EU, US Energy Firms. Russia Cuts Gas Supplies To Gazprom Unit Seized By Germany

Gazprom  

RFE: Moscow Puts Sanctions On European Gazprom Units In Countries That Have Imposed Sanctions On Russia 

Russia has imposed sanctions against units of Gazprom Germania and dozens of other companies based in countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine. 

 Under the sanctions, the 31 companies listed on May 11 by the Russian government are banned from conducting transactions and entering Russian ports. 

But it notably includes local subsidiaries of Gazprom, which supplies more than a third of European gas.  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Why should Russia ship natural gas to European Gasprom companies/units that were seized last month by European governments who took these institutions without compensation? 

The shock from the Western media and governments over these reciprocal sanctions being imposed on them is a sight to see. My guess is that they never expected it, and they never made the calculation on what would be the consequences if they impose sanctions on a country like Russia. 

Bottom line. 

The sanctions that the West have imposed on the Kremlin is hurting the Russian economy, but it looks like these reciprocal sanctions are probably hurting the EU even more. 

Update: The impact has been immediate .... Europe gas spikes 22% as Germany quarrels with Russia over supply (Al Jazeera). 

 Russia Slaps Retaliatory Sanctions On EU, US Energy Firms

Russia’s Gazprom Halts Gas Transports to Europe Via Poland Pipeline -- Moscow Times  

Russia puts sanctions on Gazprom units in Europe and U.S., part owner of pipeline -- Reuters  

Russia Curbs Gas Supplies to Germany in Warning for Europe -- Bloomberg  

Kremlin says no supplies possible to entities on its gas sanctions list -- Reuters  

Europe's gas supply crisis grows after Russia imposes sanctions -- Reuters

EU Postpones A Russian Oil Ban Until The End Of The Year

Europe wants to ban Russian oil, but cutting off supplies is an economic and political nightmare  

Reuters: EU leans towards Russian oil ban by year-end, diplomats say 

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union is leaning toward a ban on imports of Russian oil by the end of the year, two EU diplomats said, after talks between the European Commission and EU member states this weekend. 

The European Union is preparing a sixth package of sanctions against Russia in response to the invasion just over two months ago of Ukraine that Moscow calls a special military operation. 

The package is expected to target Russian oil, Russian and Belarusian banks, as well as more individuals and companies. 

The Commission, which is coordinating the EU response, held talks dubbed "confessionals" with small groups of EU countries and will aim to firm up its sanctions plan in time for a meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels on Wednesday. 

EU energy ministers are also due to meet in the Belgian capital on Monday to discuss the issue.  

Read more ....

Update: EU to Propose Phasing Out Russian Oil by the End of the Year (Bloomberg)  

WNU Editor: So much for cutting-off Russian oil this week. 

Bottom line. 

Banning Russian energy supplies carries a cost that the EU is not ready to accept .... Europe wants to ban Russian oil, but cutting off supplies is an economic and political nightmare (Business Insider).

EU Accepts The Kremlin's Proposal On How To Pay For Russian Gas

European Union flags fly outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, April 10, 2019. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo  

FOX News: Russia sanctions: European Commission suggests Moscow's gas payment workaround may work for EU companies 

Moscow threatened to cut off Europe unless companies fulfilled their contracts. 

The European Commission advised companies that Moscow's proposed workaround to complete gas payments may not violate sanctions enacted due to the invasion of Ukraine. 

"EU companies can ask their Russian counterparts to fulfill their contractual obligations in the same manner as before the adoption of the decree, i.e. by depositing the due amount in euros or dollars," said a document distributed by the European Commission on Thursday.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: EU Says Pay for Russian Gas in Euros to Avoid Breaching Sanctions -- Reuters  

Update #2: EU admits rouble payments for Putin's gas might not breach sanctions -- The Telegraph  

WNU Editor: So much for Russian sanctions. The EU is accepting the Kremlin's proposal to work with the Russian gas company Gazprombank that will permit companies to deposit foreign currency in one account while Gazprom would complete the transactions in rubles. 

This is a major reversal for the EU, but the EU had no choice. A cut-off in Russian natural gas over non-payment would turn into an economic disaster within a very short period of time.

Four Eastern European Countries Expel Russian Diplomats

Russia's flag flutters in front of the embassy building in Tallinn, Estonia. Copyright RAIGO PAJULA / AFP, FILE  

RFE: Bulgaria Expels 10 Russian Diplomats, Baltics Follow Suit With Another 10 Expulsions 

Bulgaria is expelling 10 Russian diplomats saying they were carrying out activities deemed incompatible with their diplomatic status, a move followed up quickly by the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. 

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on March 18 that it had given the 10 diplomats 72 hours to leave. The statement did not give a more detailed reason for the expulsions, but since Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the Russian ambassador in Sofia has repeatedly made contradictory statements about Bulgaria's position on the conflict. The ministry also did not say who was included on the list of people being expelled.  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: With tensions being as high as they are right now, expect more expulsions in the near future. 

Four Eastern European Countries Expel Russian Diplomats 

Four European countries expel 20 Russian diplomats -- Al Jazeera 

EU member states expel 20 total Russian diplomats amid Ukraine war -- Euronews  

10 Russian diplomats expelled from Bulgaria -- The Hill  

Russia threatens response after four countries expel 20 diplomats -- UPI

Russia To Evacuate Citizens From Europe

An Aeroflot Airbus A320 aircraft takes off at Sheremetyevo airport outside Moscow on June 13, 2018 © AFP / Yuri Kadobnov 

RT: Russia to evacuate citizens from Europe 

Moscow is working to bring back Russian nationals that are stuck in Europe due to flight restrictions 

The Russian government has announced it is working on a plan to evacuate its citizens from Europe, after an array of European countries closed their airspace to all Russian airlines amid Moscow’s military conflict with Kiev. 

Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency and Federal Tourism Agency revealed on Sunday that they were working with the Russian Foreign Ministry to evacuate Russians from European nations as they continue to impose sanctions on Russia, cutting off Russian aircraft from their air-spaces. 

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: It is going to be tough. Most airlines have already suspended their flights to Russia. It looks like if you want to get back to Russia, it will have to be via the land routes.

How Europeans Get Their Electricity, And Why Importing Russian Natural Gas Is Necessary

Startegic Culture: How Europeans Get Their Electricity 

As Europe's energy crisis continues to ebb and flow - with the US-Ukraine-Russia war-mongering barely able to hide its obvious implications on the continent's heating, cooking, and transportation fuels - knowing which countries will be more (or less affected) by potential sanctions (or sanctions retaliation) is critical. 

Additionally, as EIA notes, the desperate virtue-sigaling efforts to de-fossilize any and all energy sources in Europe as soon as possible has come back to bite many nations... at exactly the wrong time...  

“Worldwide efforts to address climate change is leading to the rapid electrification of numerous end-users from transport to industry, driving a massive increase in power demand as well as the need to generate as much of it as possible from renewable sources. The result is a dramatic transformation of power systems globally.” – iea.org.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: It is not only Russian natural gas that Europe is dependent. Russia is one of the world's top oil producers. Any disruption in its supply will have a profound global impact on oil supply and prices.