Russia has turned off Finland’s gas supply following Helsinki’s decision to join Nato in the latest escalation of an energy payments dispute with the West.
Gas firm Gazprom said it had completely halted exports to Finland at 4am today, with Finnish state-owned gas wholesaler Gasum on Friday confirming the move.
It followed Russia’s decision to halt power supplies to Finland last week.
Russia has continued to supply gas to Western countries despite being hit by sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine.
i has also revealed Britain has imported £400m of Russian diesel since the invasion of Ukraine despite protests that the trade is funding Vladimir Putin’s war machine.
Energy giant Gazprom has demanded European countries pay for gas supplies in roubles because of the sanctions, but Finland refuses to do so.
Most European supply contracts are paid in euros or dollars.
Last month, Russia cut off gas to Bulgaria and Poland after they refused to pay in roubles, the Russian currency.
The decision to cut Finland’s gas supply comes just three days after the Finnish and Swedish governments submitted applications to join Nato.
More from News
Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg hailed the move as “a historic moment, which we must seize”, with the Nordic countries’ membership bolstering the alliance’s shared security.
Finland, which shares an 810-mile border as well as a difficult past with Russia, had previously maintained a neutral stance and remained outside the alliance.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said joining Nato was a “radical change” in Finland’s foreign policy, adding Moscow “will be forced to take retaliatory steps, both of a military-technical and other nature, in order to stop threats to its national security arising”.
Kremlin spokesperson Dimitry Peskov warned Finland joining Nato would “definitely” represent a threat to Russia.
Mr Peskov told reporters: “Finland joined the unfriendly steps taken by the European Union towards our country.
“This cannot fail to arouse our regret, and is a reason for corresponding symmetrical responses on our side.”
Last month, Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev warned there would be “no more talk of a nuclear-free Baltic” if Sweden and Finland join the alliance.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMifWh0dHBzOi8vaW5ld3MuY28udWsvbmV3cy9ydXNzaWEtY3V0cy1maW5sYW5kcy1nYXMtc3VwcGx5LWRheXMtYWZ0ZXItaGVsc2lua2ktbW92ZWQtdG8tam9pbi1uYXRvLXBheW1lbnQtcm93LWVzY2FsYXRlcy0xNjQzMTQ30gEA?oc=5
2022-05-21 07:02:00Z
1431361029
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar