DISINFO: The game of sanctions pushes Europe into a hopeless situation
SUMMARY
Traders will profit from the hopeless situation of the Europeans in the coming heating season. It is the result of the stupid decision of Europe to break relations with Russia. Now inhabitants of the EU could accept the situation or try to influence their governments to stop the sanction games.
RESPONSE
The narrative is part of the recurring disinformation campaign surrounding the energy sector and sanctions on Russia. The aim of these narratives is to belittle and denigrade Western sanctions on Russia.
In reality, sanctions are the response to Russian aggression against Ukraine, which started in 2014 with the illegal annexation of Crimea and expanded on 24 February 2022 by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. See more information about the sanctions of the EU on Russia here.
The EU made a number of decisions to manage a possible energy crisis this winter. I.e., EU countries reached a general agreement to purchase gas through a joint platform. Also, in early October 2022, the European Commission outlined possible strategies to cap gas prices. On the 19 December 2022, the Council agreed on a temporary mechanism to limit excessive gas prices. As stated in the press release:
"EU energy ministers reached a political agreement on a Council regulation that sets a market correction mechanism to protect citizens and the economy against excessively high prices. The regulation aims to limit episodes of excessive gas prices in the EU that do not reflect world market prices, while ensuring security of energy supply and the stability of financial markets".
See also our article Smoke, mirrors and gas: the Kremlin deflects blame for the energy crisis.
See other examples of disinformation in the context of sanctions on Russia: EU sanctions are hurting Europe more than Russia; The West declared total war against Russia; Sanctions imposed by Washington and Brussels are pushing Italy to economic suicide.