EU agrees to reduce gas use

After negotiations held Tuesday, EU member states have agreed that states must voluntarily reduce gas use by 15 per cent from August to March.

This was not an impossible “mission, said the Czech Republic, which is leading the EU presidency in the next six months.

However, in some drafts the British broadcaster has seen BBC, it has been suggested that the deal is pale, because states can seek exemptions.

“In efforts to boost EU security in energy supplies, member states have reached political agreements that voluntarily reduce natural gas use for 15 per cent this winter”, the EU has said.

The goal of reducing gas use is to have reserves for winter, so that we can prepare for a gas outreach from Russia, which is using energy supplies as weapons”.

The deal on voluntary reduction of gas use could become mandatory in case of any emergency.

The EU has said that some states, which are not related to gas pipelines of other countries, could be exempt from asking for such a reduction, since they have no alternative supplies.

This deal comes after the state energy company in Russia, Gazprom, has announced a renewed reduction of gas supplies to Germany, so that the works in the North Stream pipeline can be allowed.

The pipeline, which carries gas from Russia to Germany, has sent gas under its current capacity for weeks and weeks.

Months ago, Gazprom has only halted gas supplies to Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Holland and Poland, following their refusal to comply with the Kremlin's order to pay its bills in rubs, rather than in dollars or euros.

Earlier this month, this biggest Russian gas pipeline in Europe has been closed due to 10-day works, prompting concerns in Europe that it may not return to work.

The shipments have resumed five days ago although with reduced capacity.

However, on Monday, Gazprom has said he would stop the supplies once more.

This time, the company has said it has to stop supplies almost half, so it can do the work.

However, the German government has said there are no technical reasons to limit supplies.

Zelensky: Russia is blackmailing Europe through gas

Ukraine has accused Moscow of <x0) gas war against Europe, as well as of halting supplies to promote “terror” against people.

“The gas trend in Europe, which only gets worse every month, is necessary for the terrorist state in order to make every European”'s life difficult, Ukrainian President Volodyyr Zelensky has said in his daily address.

He has said Russia is deliberately making it more difficult for Europe to prepare for winter, without considering the situation that people might face in that season.

The European Union has secured 40 percent of the gas from Russia last year.

News of another reduction of gas increases pressure on EU states to reduce their dependence on Russian gas.

This decision also makes gas insurance more difficult for them in the winter months.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, on the part of Russia on February 24th, the price of gas has increased and this conflict has had an impact on energy bills worldwide.

The Kremlin has said high prices are the result of Western sanctions, insisting that it is a reliable energy partner and is not responsible for recent obstacles to gas supplies.

Meanwhile, Ukraine still hopes that the deal reached with Russia, under UN mediation, will mean that grain exports resume from the Black Sea ports “within days”.

If the parties guarantee security, the agreement will be implemented. If not, it will not apply”, said Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov.

In his daily address, Zelensky has said he believes grain exports from Ukraine will start again this week.

His comments followed concerns that the deal could fail, since Russia has targeted Ukraine's key port, Odesan, with rockets on Saturday.

About 20 million tons of wheat have been blocked in Ukraine, unable to bear because Russian navy controls most of the Black Sea.