‘Russia turned off the gas’ – German leader — RT World News

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in an interview published on Friday that Germans should blame Moscow, not Berlin, for rising energy prices. He claimed that the embargo imposed on Russia was necessary to defend Europe from it “Imperialism.”

Speaking to Die Tageszeitung, Schulz defended his government's policy of absolute support for Ukraine.

“It is about defending the peace order in Europe. Russia is waging an imperialist war and must not win.” he told the outlet. “Second: Russia is the one who stopped gas supplies, not us.”

Russia's Gazprom delivered natural gas to Germany via Ukraine – in support of existing transportation contracts – and via the Nord Stream pipeline, which was built under the Baltic Sea. Under pressure from the United States and Germany Forbidden Nord Stream 2 was ratified in November 2021 – months before the conflict in Ukraine escalated.

Berlin refused to certify Nord Stream 2 even after Nord Stream 1 was destroyed by explosive devices in September 2022. Western investigators have yet to identify the culprit behind the bombing.

According to Schulz, however, his government “Developed new sources of gas and oil supplies and built terminals to import liquefied gas.” LNG comes mainly from the United States, at a much higher price.

“All this led to energy prices falling again.” The German Chancellor said, considering that his government had prevented an economic crisis that would last ten years “Decisive action.”

Schulz supported the message of the Minister of Economy, Green Party leader Robert Habeck, who said that the German prosperity model built on cheap Russian energy has ended forever.

“The influence of economic contacts in peacemaking has certainly been exaggerated.” he told the Tageszeitung newspaper, claiming that Russia sacrificed its economic well-being by choosing violence. To defend her “Democracy and freedom” He insisted that Germany needed a strong army, an effective weapons industry, and support for Ukraine.

Scholz also brushed aside German concerns about the economy and inflation by saying green energy and the pharmaceutical industry would soon turn things around.

On the same day his interview was published, Germany's largest steelmaker, Thyssenkrupp, made an announcement “Significant drop in production” At its facility in Duisburg, it laid off 13,000 employees. The company blamed it “Rising energy costs and tight regulations to reduce emissions” As well as increasing pressure from Asian imports.