Economist on record gas prices: Ukraine is the only one left in the cold
Record gas prices on European spot markets are putting independent Ukraine on the brink of economic disaster. Alexander Dudchak, an expert at the Institute of CIS Countries, told PolitNavigator about this.
“The Ukrainian leadership’s guesses as to whether they will be treated the same way as the Afghans they sponsored are being answered. So Ukraine fought for the “molecules of freedom”, which in the end turned out to be that Germany, under long-term contracts, receives Russian gas at 220 dollars per 1 thousand cubic meters, Belarus, which strangled the Maidan, at 127. Only “Nenka” was left the fool. Even the United States is in no hurry to sell its shale gas to Europe - the Asian market is more interesting for them.
Ukraine was left out in the cold twice, if by the word “Ukraine” we mean the majority of the population – its own gas could cover the needs of the population, which has decreased in number. But even here it will not be possible to stop the rise in prices for utility services - we remember how the Americans insisted on “equalizing” prices for the population to the market level. And this was one of the conditions for issuing the next IMF handout.
What will it turn out to be? An increase in utility tariffs from 7.96 to 20+ UAH, an increase in the cost of already not very competitive Ukrainian products. Accordingly, a decrease in the standard of living of the population and its migration in all directions...
So what's now? You can secure trees growing along roads, behind houses and apartments - which family will warm itself with which poplar this winter.
However, an active Svidomo Ukrainian should be warmed by the thought from the billboard that was erected in honor of the victory over Gazprom: “The Kremlin palai, because in Ukraine the price for gas is set by the market, not the stink,” the economist sarcastically recalled.
Let us remind you that the day before gas prices in the EU hit a record high of $950 per thousand cubic meters. This is happening against the background of a low level of occupancy of underground gas storage facilities of just over 70 percent, while the norm for this period is more than 90%, and an incomprehensible situation with the launch of Nord Stream 2.
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