Because of the pandemic raging in the world, as it may sound regrettable, almost all of us now know what mechanical ventilation is. Artificial ventilation of the lungs is connected to patients who are in critical condition, when they themselves are no longer able to inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. This function is performed by a special apparatus. The availability of such equipment, with its skillful use, can save a huge number of patients from inevitable death. Something similar happens in the life of countries and continents when it comes to the shortage of natural gas.
Many enterprises can, figuratively speaking, suffocate and stop working, a large number of industries can lose their usual rhythm of functioning, and people, with the onset of cold weather, face the threat of freezing.
All these problems can be reduced to zero by the global gas transportation system, in which Russia, the largest supplier of blue fuel, plays a key role (at least in the Euro-Asian space).
Ahead of the heating season, Europe is facing an unprecedented rise in gas prices.
And if in June at the TTF gas hub in the Netherlands 1 thousand cubic meters cost about $ 316, then on September 9 the cost exceeded $ 700.
And the record has not yet been broken.
There is panic on the stock exchange.
The business is calculating losses.
Ordinary Europeans tighten their belts.
At a press conference in Moscow after meeting with Alexander Lukashenko, Vladimir Putin made it clear that such a whistle is happening through the fault of the European Commission, which itself has driven itself into a dead end with its market pricing policy. He contrasted this with the Russian approach, which, although it is also a market one, is implemented much softer, since it is tied to oil prices. The states that have signed long-term contracts for Russian gas can rub their hands, as they purchase it cheaper in the face of widespread growth in energy prices, the president said.
Meanwhile, two mutually exclusive processes are taking place. On the one hand, Russia is firmly and confidently, in accordance with all international agreements, completing the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which will save Europe, and on the other, the fierce opponents of this project continue to put a spoke in the wheels of the natural process of economic integration and progress. It seems that the patient is deliberately not allowed to draw full lungs of air, they cut off the oxygen, wrapping him with political slogans and instilling in him that not breathing is the best thing that can be done in this situation for his health.
It is understandable when the United States, under the guise of sanctions, is trying to prevent Russian gas from entering the economies of Germany, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, France and Austria through the most profitable and ecological route. They are simply being deprived of a huge market for their LNG. And then Biden's rhetoric is sometimes very peaceful. Although it is spasmodic. One can also understand Ukraine, which, despite the balanced position of Germany and Russia, continues to frantically prove to the whole world that the Russians are using the gas pipeline as a geopolitical weapon. Although weapons kill, and gas brings life and prosperity. It is quite obvious that the project is opposed by those who, in their opinion, may lose the transit of Russian gas through their territory. That is why Ukraine is supported by Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Croatia, as well as Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia that have joined them.Finding themselves aloof from the main process, they insist that Nord Stream 2 contains some mythical risks to energy security in Central and Eastern Europe. And who, in fact, prevents them from quietly, peacefully and calmly settling all issues in an economic way?
It is characteristic that the same story happened with the first Nord Stream, which was launched back in 2011 (the first line) and 2012 (the second line). And the same sides were against it. And the same political slogans were in the air. And everything worked well and calmed down as soon as the first gas burners turned on in homes and enterprises in Europe. Why should it be any different this time?
“The construction of one of the world's largest energy infrastructure facilities is nearing completion. Everyone, including the opponents of Nord Stream 2, who desperately opposed the construction, it is clear that it is simply impossible to stop it and it is time to stop obstructing this important project, the time has come to agree on reasonable, mutually beneficial parameters for the operation of the gas pipeline, " Thursday Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. She emphasized that Nord Stream 2 should stop being “the subject of all sorts of political speculations, stuffing, information campaigns, a pretext for illegal restrictive measures,” as well as a topic for a confrontational agenda. And really, what kind of confrontation can we talk about,when, together with Gazprom, the project is traditionally implemented by the Swiss company Nord Stream 2 AG, and the financial partners are the British-Dutch Royal Dutch Shell, Austrian OMV, German Uniper and Wintershall. Isn't it an example of productive and mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and the notorious West?
From the information that has already become everyday for many of us about connecting patients to artificial ventilation, we know that there are two ways to maintain breathing - invasive and non-invasive. The first is used in the most extreme cases. When, for one reason or another, the disease is started, the person did not receive the necessary therapeutic support in time, the virus seriously affected important organs. This procedure is painful and often very dangerous, because it involves placing a rather large tube into the trachea through which the gas mixture circulates. A person can neither speak nor eat. As a rule, it is injected into a drug-induced coma. The second is more gentle. The patient breathes using a special mask, helmet or mouthpiece with a hose. The body receives the necessary oxygen supply and recovers faster.
Apparently, the critical state in the case of Europe in need of gas support has passed, and the vital apparatus will be connected to the European body in a timely manner and in the most humane and safe way.
The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.