Nord Stream

With war clouds gathering over Ukraine, international diplomacy goes into overdrive on Monday with the French and Russian presidents to talk in Moscow and the German chancellor heading to the White House to meet with US leader Joe Biden.

The EU is talking about securing gas supplies to Europe with several countries, including the United States, Norway, Qatar and Azerbaijan. This was announced today by a spokesman for the European Commission at a press conference in response to questions.

"Bulgaria is not a target for Russia because there are no strategic weapons on its territory." This was stated by the Ambassador of Russia Her Excellency Eleonora Mitrofanova on Nova TV.

She stressed that any military bases that threaten Russian security are already targets.

The United States and Germany on Jan. 27 warned Russia that a major gas pipeline was at stake if it invades Ukraine, as Washington voiced hope for a diplomatic way out despite frigid statements from Moscow.

The United States and NATO have rejected Russia's demand that the alliance close the door on Ukraine's future membership, as well as abandon any further enlargement. In addition, Nord Stream 2 will not operate if Russia invades Ukraine.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Dec. 10 headed to Paris and EU and NATO headquarters, with Russia tensions and climate in the spotlight for his first foreign trip since he took office this week.

In the shadow of the energy crisis in Europe but also of the frosty EU- Russia relations, because of Nord Stream 2, Athens and Moscow are in negotiations for the gas supply contract between Gazprom and DEPA Commercial.

President Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin were still far apart after two hours of talks on the escalating crisis caused by Russia's massing of tens of thousands of troops near its border with Ukraine.

Work on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was completed in September, but no gas will flow through it in the coming months. Germany stopped the procedure for its certification and as soon as it became known, energy prices increased by 18%. As Le Monde predicts, gas and electricity prices will remain high in the near future.

Ljubljana – After Slovenia’s largest energy company Petrol announced earlier this week that it will increase the price of electricity in December, some predicted that other suppliers would follow, but most suppliers now forecast that their prices of electricity for households would not increase until next year.