“Uncompromising stance of Russian Gazprom can be compared only with the style of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR Andrei Gromyko, who was called in the West “Mr. No”. At the same time, forcing through their own positions was the best way to carry out political functions, including the use of energy weapon.
However, times have changed and Gazprom begins to understand that. After all, the logic of developing a single gas market in the EU is based not only on corporate interests. Initially, Russians were confident enough with respect to lawsuits, relying on the support of their European partner companies.
However, the period of high prices for resources and demand growth is over, and the ‘gas wars’ of recent years have finally buried the trust between the parties. The fall in gas sales volumes and the corresponding revenues have become a threat to the financial stability of Gazprom, not to mention the future of all its ‘streams’.
And now the Russian monopolist is ready for significant concessions. Understanding the prospect of multi-billion fines, the company asks the European Commission for an extrajudicial settlement in the antitrust case. Russians also plan to meet with Polish PGNiG, which filed a lawsuit to the Stockholm Arbitration Court in May.
By the way, initialling the protocol on gas supplies to Ukraine should be considered to this end. The consolidated position of Ukraine and the EU, backed by strong arguments such as diversification and financial resources, forced the leadership of the Russian Federation to dialogue at first, and then to concessions.”