Expert on sanctions against Russia: skyrocketing prices will affect European market in month or two
The European Union has lost over 500 million Euros due to its anti-Russian sanctions: Western countries in general and ordinary consumers suffer from the imposed restrictions – as stated by Aleksei Belyaev, the Dean of the Journalism Department at the Belarusian State University, in his talk with Alfa Radio
Mr. Belyaev noted that Europe is a conglomerate of states that are physically dependent on exports, primarily of natural resources, “They do not have their own oil and gas, they do not have metals, especially rare-earth ones, and they actually have no forests. Over the millennial history, everything has been reduced to zero. At present, Europe is an overpopulated part of the land with very high standards of consumption and a very low real basis that can provide these standards. Therefore, Europe and all these empires – French, British, Spanish – have relied mostly on the robbery of their colonies for centuries. Italians were also engaged in colonisation some time ago: i.e. Genoa and Venice founded their colonies on the territory of the Black Sea region and the Middle East, among others. Therefore, Europe has long existed precisely as a centre pumping out resources from the rest of the world. Unfortunately, it used Russia as well.”
In the 20th century, Europeans began to establish mutual co-operation with Russia, and the programmes proposed by Germany have been implemented. Mr. Belyaev mentioned one of them as an example: gas in exchange for pipelines.
“Germans created a pipeline network to pump Soviet gas, the infrastructure was developed, and that was a beneficial project for them – as well as for us. However, the situation is completely different at present. Europe is a place where large global companies – known as multinational corporations that make money on trade – are concentrated as residents. They produce and sell something, but they have closed the Russian market for themselves – selling nothing and buying no raw materials from there. They contributed or rejoiced and did nothing when some enemies physically destroyed the gas pipelines. Much money was invested in the Nord Streams, and we see that the case [of explosion] is now again coming to the fore: they are searching for who is responsible for that. However, it is clear to everyone that the United States was involved,” the expert noted.
Mr. Belyaev added that the US had made Europeans to rely on its liquefied gas, which is much more expensive than Russian gas. “Europeans have started turning on oil and gas valves in Norway again, as they simply lack this raw material. They are trying to limit the cost of Russian oil by introducing absolutely silly and unrealisable price ceilings. Global oil prices fluctuate because of the developing political events. The Red Sea has been blocked, and oil is not being transported through it due to the actions of the Houthis. All merchant ships loaded with containers of necessary goods produced in Asia take the bypass to reach Europe. Prices are skyrocketing, and this situation will affect the European market in a month or two. Who will lose? These will be Europeans – and primarily consumers – who will have to overpay,” the expert explained.
