Making a profit from a loss

Kyiv's failure to renew the agreement with Moscow on the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to supply several European countries has caused considerable damage to Russia.

Gas pipelines 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 pays transit fees for its gas and oil to Ukraine but gains income from exporting oil and gas. It is clear that Ukraine is determined to eliminate all of Russia's income from oil and gas exports.

Moscow's strategy was to create advantages from losses. Russia sought alternative ways to continue supplying gas to Slovakia, an EU and NATO member, thereby simultaneously dividing the West internally and creating a rift between the EU and NATO and Ukraine. Next, Russia announced it would stop supplying gas to Moldova, citing Moldova's failure to repay its debt and its inability to continue transiting gas through Ukraine.

In essence, Russia is pushing Moldova into a position where it must increase direct pressure on Kyiv to ensure that Russian gas continues to be transited through Ukraine, turning the issue between Russia and Moldova into an issue between Moldova and Ukraine. Russia's targeting of Moldova is also simultaneously targeting the EU and NATO, as these two alliances have recently tried every means to draw Moldova into their sphere of influence, preventing it from leaning towards Russia.

This policy measure by the EU and NATO has not yielded the expected results, as Russia has still found ways to circumvent the damage it has suffered, thereby gaining advantages in various ways. This is also because while the EU and NATO are wholeheartedly committed to Ukraine, the country has put the two alliances in a very difficult position internally and in their relations with allies.

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