Economy 10:19 01/11/2014

‘Moscow ends up at risk with Ukraine gas agreement’

It is not clear what Moscow gets out of a deal with Ukraine by selling gas below market price, and guaranteeing supplies to Europe while there are still sanctions and anti-Russian propaganda, Paul Roberts, former Assistant US Treasury Secretary, told RT.

RT: How important is this deal for Ukraine and Europe?

Paul Roberts: It is not clear what the Russian government gets out of it. They have agreed to sell gas to Ukraine at a subsidized price, far below the market price. And yet Ukraine continues to carry on propaganda against Russia, continues to attack the Russian population in eastern and southern Ukraine.

RT: But getting away from those attacks how significant is this deal for Europe and for Ukraine, did they walk away winners in this?

PR: Of course Europe and Ukraine walks away and Russia is a loser. Here you have Russia subsidizing the countries that are imposing sanctions on it, trying to destroy Russia.

RT: Some experts say that Russia is a winner in this situation? Do you agree with that? Is this a good price for gas?

PR: Why is a hundred dollars below the market price a good price? Furthermore, there is no guarantee that Russia will ever be paid. If they are not going to be paid, what are they going to do? They are going to cut off the gas in the middle of the winter so that Washington propaganda can say: “Look at these evil Russians, they are starving, freezing Ukrainians, the gas is cut off!” I don’t think Russians understand what they are dealing with. Washington is far more devious and sophisticated then Russia can comprehend. This is not that Russia has a chance.

RT: But it is not Ukraine that is going to pay this money to Russia. The EU and IMF have said they're ready to finance Kiev's debt to Russia. But the Ukrainian economy is in tatters. Can they expect to get the money back?

PR: If the IMF pays the Ukrainian bills it takes it back out of Ukraine. This is not a gift to Ukraine. If the Ukrainian economy blows up - which is likely to be the case – the IMF sees it is not going to be paid because Ukraine can’t pay. Russians won’t be paying.

RT: Russia is having economic problems of its own. Is this agreement a positive step for Moscow too?

PR: I think Moscow ends up at risk with this agreement. Washington is very interested in doing all the damage it possibly can to Russia because Russia is a potential check on Washington’s hegemony over the world. So for all the prices falling is good as far as Washington is concerned. I think it is foolish for the Russians to let their currency be traded at foreign exchange markets because Washington can attack the ruble and the exchange markets and drive it down. Just as George Soros did. One person was able to destroy the British pound. Washington can easily destroy the ruble. I still don’t think Russians understand what they are up against; they are not really in the game. Vladimir Putin is a good leader and he gives good speeches, but he doesn't seem to be able to prevent the continuing assaults on Russia. Despite giving Ukraine a subsidized gas price, despite Russia guaranteeing energy supplies to Europe in the winter, there is no reduction in sanctions, there is no stop in the propaganda against Russia. In fact the propaganda has increased because Washington is afraid that Russia might gain some advantage from treating Ukraine in such a kind way. What is Russia gaining out of this? It is not getting anything. Here is Russia with a power to turn energy off in Europe. It doesn’t use it, it doesn’t say to these countries in Europe: “Look, if you are going to put sanctions on us, if you are not going to have an independent foreign policy, if you are going to follow Washington’s orders - we don’t sell gas to NATO members.” 



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

11:47
Armenian leadership seeking rupture of ties with Russia, Lavrov says
The Armenian leadership is messing up relations with Moscow for no good reason, TASS quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as...
11:30
Today marks Good Friday
The week leading up to Easter or Holy Resurrection is called Holy Week (in Armenian Avak Shabat). During this period, the Armenian Apostolic...
11:15
Political prisoner Narek Samsonyan sends open letter-inquiry to U.S. ambassador
Chairman of Civic Consciousness NGO, founder of AntiFake.am media outlet, political prisoner Narek Samsonyan wrote an open letter-inquiry to...
11:00
ARF calls for consolidation to save Armenian statehood
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) Bureau issued the following statement on Thursday: "In recent weeks, Nikol...
17:12
She said yes: Marriage proposal at Hayat Project concert in Gyumri
A young man proposed to his beloved at a Hayat Project concert in Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city. In a video posted online, the...
16:45
Opposition MP slams Pashinyan's Artsakh statements
Opposition Hayastan faction MP Ishkhan Saghatelyan has expressed support to the Artsakh government in exile following Armenian Prime Minister...
16:04
MP Aghvan Vardanyan visits arrested activists
MP Aghvan Vardanyan, who represents the opposition Hayastan faction, on Thursday visited the Armavir Penitentiary where activists Vazgen...
15:36
Armenian opposition MP visits border villages
Opposition MP Tigran Abrahamyan has visited the villages of Voskepar and Baghanis in Tavush Province adjacent to the border areas demanded by...
15:04
Ex-Yerevan mayor setting up new party
Former Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan is setting up a new party in the near future, his team has confirmed to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service....
14:36
Armenia to send 29.94 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza
Armenia will deliver 29.94 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza ravaged by the conflict with Israel. The decision was approved at a cabinet...
14:07
Expert: Pashinyan decided to terrorize Artsakh leaders
Political analyst Suren Surenyants has criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statements on Artsakh leaders at a cabinet meeting on...
13:35
Analyst: The West doesn't care about Armenia
The West wants Armenia and Azerbaijan to sign a peace treaty as soon as possible and Armenia's territorial losses do not matter to it,...
13:06
Moscow concerned over anti-Russian bias of Armenia-EU-US meeting
The Armenia-EU-US meeting scheduled for April 5 is causing Moscow’s concern as Washington and Brussels are openly discussing its...
12:37
Pashinyan: Some circles displaced from Karabakh take actions threatening Armenia's security
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warns that the actions taken by “some circles” forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh)...
12:04
Artsakh dissolution decree was 'the only way' to save people, president says
President Samvel Shahramanyan claims his decree ordering the dissolution of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Republic was the “only...
11:30
Japanese supplement products recalled after two deaths and over 100 people hospitalized
Health supplement products believed to have caused two deaths and sickened more than 100 people have been ordered to be taken off store shelves...
11:15
Today is Holy Thursday
The week leading up to Easter or Holy Resurrection is called Holy Week (in Armenian Avak Shabat). During this period, the Armenian Apostolic...
11:00
Upcoming Armenia-US-EU meeting not directed against any third party – Foreign Ministry
The high-level meeting scheduled for April 5 in Brussels is aimed at strengthening Armenia-EU-US cooperation and is not directed against...
17:00
Azerbaijan's team opts out of Sambo World Cup in Yerevan
Azerbaijan's national team will not participate in the Sambo World Cup to be held in Yerevan, Armenia, Azerbaijani Sambo Federation official...
16:45
Biden calls Putin 'butcher'
US President Joe Biden has disparaged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for the second time in two months, publicly calling him a...
16:30
Armenian parliament speaker defends land handover to Azerbaijan
Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan has defended the plans to hand over border villages in Tavush Province to Azerbaijan. He...
16:04
Azerbaijan must create conditions for safe return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh, UK says
The UK government is clear that Azerbaijan must create the conditions for a safe and secure return of ethnic Armenians who were displaced from...
15:35
Photo campaign calls for release of political prisoners in Armenia
A photo campaign for the release of Armenian opposition activists has been launched in Yerevan. Photos of political prisoners Narek...
15:15
Arthur Abraham's father dies at 68
German-Armenian boxing star Arthur Abraham’s father, Grigor Abrahamyan, has died in Berlin at the age of 68. “We’re deeply...
15:00
Armenian MP warns of threats after possible land handover to Azerbaijan
Opposition MP Tigran Abrahamyan has warned of threats to a number of settlements in Armenia amid Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s signaled...
14:31
EU mission hosts French ambassador to Armenia
The EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) on Wednesday hosted French Ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies and members of the French...
14:06
Azerbaijan opposes Armenia-EU-US conference
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has deplored the EU-Armenia-US joint conference scheduled for 5 April, warning that it will create...
13:36
Political prisoner Vazgen Saghatelyan slams Pashinyan in letter from prison
Political prisoner Vazgen Saghatelyan has blasted Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his regime for efforts to silence their critics in...
12:34
U.S. aims to encourage Armenia and Azerbaijan to bridge differences – State Dept.
The objective of the United States is to encourage Armenia and Azerbaijan to bridge their differences, U.S. State Department...
12:15
Ukraine tells EU to hand over 'missing' €5B in Russian asset profits
Ukraine is pushing for another €5 billion from the proceeds generated by frozen Russian assets that the EU has decided to withhold from the...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}