(Finance) – “We must raise the pressure on Putin” and on Russia “but at the moment it is not possible to cut gas supplies” from Moscow. Coming to the Eurogroup, the Minister of Finance of Germany, Christian Lindner, slows down on the hypothesis of an immediate embargo on Russian gas. According to Lindner for a similar maneuver “need some time”.
“We want to be less dependent on energy imports from Russia in a short time. We support other sanctions, we must put more pressure on Putin and isolate Russia, cut off all economic relations but at the moment – Lindner said – it is not possible to cut gas supplies, it takes some time and we have to differentiate between oil, coal and gas. “And asked if that means that Russian oil and coal imports can be banned immediatelyi, replied: “I am not inclined to speculation”.
After the horrors of Bucha, Europe seeks – with difficulty – a compact response and the hypothesis of a total embargo returns to the work table to Russian gas, so as to hit Russia harder from an economic point of view. Kiev Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba asked for “new devastating sanctions” from the G7. In the past few hours, it seemed that the opening that everyone was waiting for had arrived from Berlin. But today the tones are much more cautious, as Lindner’s words show.
On the no front, even Austria that “he is not in favor of new gas-related sanctions” against Moscow. We are very dependent on Russian gas and I think that all sanctions that affect us more than they affect Russia would not be fair, “said the Austrian finance minister. , Magnus Brunner, arriving at the Eurogroup. What is happening in Ukraine “it’s extremely tough, but when it comes to sanctions you have to stay cool and if one sanction hurts you more than the other party then it’s not the right direction, ”Brunner pointed out.
On the gas block, Rome remains cautious but there is some progress. “Italy does not veto” sanctions, says Foreign Minister Di Maio more generally, and the government is working on gas to “free itself from Russian blackmail”.
All the more so since in the majority the front of those in favor of the embargo is growing. “How many more Buchas will we have to see before we decide to impose a total embargo on Russian oil and gas? Time is up”. The secretary of the Democratic Party wrote it on Twitter, in English Enrico Letta referring precisely to the massacre of civilians in the city of Bucha.
Also the Minister of Ecological Transition, Cingolani it seems possible. Would our country be able to support such a drastic measure? “The first months would not be critical, because we have reserves that are not very large but sufficient to face the next few months, even with the next season on the way” she told the 24 Mattino microphones on Radio24.