Chances for cutting off Russian gas

In one of his recent statements, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Witold Waszczykowski announced that within the next five years Poland is able to bring about the situation when it becomes independent of Russian gas. He also criticised the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

Waszczykowski stated he has “limited trust in (…) the European institutions. In connection with this, we also take independent actions so as not to hinge solely on the dictate of Russian gas supplies”. The statement was presented in a press conference in Warsaw after a meeting with Paweł Klimkin, the head of Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The head of Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that Poland’s independence would not mean stopping the supplies, provided they would be offered on satisfactory terms – such that would be cheaper than the supplies from other parts of the world. He also reminded the construction of the LNG terminal in Świnoujście, thanks to which Poland may import gas from any country and stressed joint plans of Poland, Denmark and Norway on the construction of a direct gas pipeline which is to connect Poland with the North Sea area.

Waszczykowski spoke critically on the matter of Nord Stream 2. According to him, both Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 are political instruments. The head of Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Western European countries that believe the gas consumer market of the Western Europe has a chance to dictate supply terms to the Russians are naïve and the countries’ philosophy on cooperation with Russia and energy security and Polish outlook on the case are very different. He also announced that Poland together with Ukraine will revert to all legal measures available to make EU notice the danger.

As Klimkin reminded, Ukraine has not been buying Russian gas for over a year. Something that previously seemed impossible was reached thanks to – as he claims – “solidarity and help of friends”. Currently, Ukraine buys gas from the European Union.