Making the most of loss

Kyiv's failure to extend the validity of the agreement with Moscow on the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to supply a number of European countries has caused significant damage to Russia.

Gas pipeline in Russia

As long as Ukraine allows Russia to transit its oil and gas, Moscow can continue to use this method to circumvent EU policy measures and sanctions. Russia has to pay Ukraine for the transit of gas and oil, but it gets income from oil and gas exports. It can be seen that Ukraine is determined to eliminate all income from Russia from oil and gas exports.

Moscow’s strategy was to make gains out of losses. Russia sought other ways to continue supplying gas to Slovakia, an EU and NATO member, thereby dividing both the West and the EU and NATO with Ukraine. Next, Russia announced that it would stop supplying gas to Moldova, saying that Moldova had not paid off its debt and could no longer continue to transit gas through Ukraine.

In essence, Russia is pushing Moldova into a situation where it must increase direct pressure on Kyiv so that Russian gas continues to be transported through Ukraine, turning the problem between Russia and Moldova into a problem between Moldova and Ukraine. Russia targeting Moldova is also targeting the EU and NATO, because these two alliances have recently tried every way to draw Moldova into their sphere of influence, preventing Moldova from leaning towards Russia.

This policy measure of the EU and NATO did not achieve the expected results, because Russia still found ways to create benefits in many different aspects from the damage suffered. That is also because the EU and NATO are wholeheartedly supporting Ukraine, but this country has made the two alliances very awkward internally and in relations with allies.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tao-dung-loi-trong-thiet-hai-185241229221158265.htm