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Transcript/ScriptRussia-Ukraine-Europe-Energy
HEAD: Russia, Ukraine Tensions Spark Worries in Europe Over Energy Security
TEASER:
PUBLISHED: 02/03/2022 at 4:15
BYLINE: Oksana Bedratenko
DATELINE: Washington
CAMERA: Oleksii Osyka
VIDEO EDITOR: Oleksii Osyka
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: KE (1st), MAS, djones approved balance
VIDEO FROM: VOA, Reuters,
TYPE: TVPKG
TRT: 3:30
VIDEO APPROVER'S INITIALS: MAS
UPDATE: ))
((INTRO))
[[With tensions between Russian and Ukraine intensifying steadily, European countries are concerned the flow of gas from Russia will be affected. Oksana Bedratenko looks at how Russia’s actions against Ukraine may affect Europe’s energy sector. Anna Rice narrates her story.]]
((NARRATION))
About 40 percent of the natural gas supplied to European countries like France, Poland, Germany and Italy comes from Russia.
Western powers are concerned Russia will create a pretext to disrupt the flow of gas moving to Europe through Ukraine.
((Aura Sabadus, Independent Commodity Intelligence Services)) ((Mandatory Skype))
“What I do expect would be some local incidents, possibly an attack on the Ukrainian pipeline, that’s quite likely. And it would also give Russia an excuse to extricate itself from the long-term contract, the transmission contract that it has.”
((NARRATION))
The U.S. has alleged that Russia has a plan to stage an attack and use it as a reason to invade Ukraine. Russia has strongly denied the charge.
Experts suspect Russia plans to use its energy supply as leverage to divide Europe.
They point to disagreement in Europe over Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline,
((Courtesy: NORD STREAM 2 / AXEL SCHMIDT))
which runs from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea.
The project has been completed, but must still get the approval of regulators in Germany and the European Union.
Debra Cagan - a former US deputy assistant secretary of State - says Russia’s strategy is clear.
((End courtesy))
((Debra Cagan, Transatlantic (correct this spelling. The script was wrong. Apologies) Leaders Network)) ((Mandatory Skype))
“They (Russia) are clearly – no question – using this as a political weapon to threaten Europe and especially threaten those countries who they believe might have a role in approving Nord Stream 2. So, Russia’s ultimate goal is to get the European Union to change its antitrust rules to allow Russia to not only provide the gas, but also own the pipelines and own the type of pressure and the amount of gas that goes through those pipelines.”
((NARRATION))
The U.S. and Europe have warned Russia about the consequences of its aggression toward Ukraine, and say sanctions for any military action in the Ukraine will include Nord Stream 2.
((Mandatory courtesy: US Department of State))
((Mandatory YouTube Logo))
((Victoria Nuland, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs))
“With regards to Nord Stream 2, we continue to have very strong and clear conversations with our German allies, and I want to be clear with you today – if Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward.”
((End courtesy))
((NARRATION))
In order to help Europe deal with a potential gas crisis, the United States has approached Qatar and other energy-producing states about providing gas to Europe if Russia cuts off their...
((Mandatory Courtesy: NORD STREAM 2 / AXEL SCHMIDT))
...supply.
The International Energy Agency says U.S.exports of liquified natural gas or LNG to Europe in the last quarter of 2021 jumped 40 percent from last year’s totals.
But experts say that won’t be able to completely make up for the loss of Russian LNG in the short term.
((End courtesy))
((Aura Sabadus, Independent Commodity Intelligence Services)) ((Mandatory Skype))
“In January, imports of LNG in Europe have been almost at record levels, and half of those were in fact from the U.S. So, there has been a lot of U.S. LNG coming to Europe.”
((NARRATION))
Debra Cagan believes, however, that a disruption of Russian supplies would directly affect not
((Mandatory courtesy: Reuters))
((Mandatory NORD STREAM 2 / AXEL SCHMIDT))
only Europe, but the U.S. as well.
((End courtesy))
((Debra Cagan, Transatlantic Leaders Network)) ((Mandatory Skype))
“The United States – while it is telling Europe to cut off Russian gas – is importing about 18 million barrels a month of Russian oil into the United States …”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Reuters))
((Mandatory courtesy: NORD STREAM 2 / AXEL SCHMIDT))
For their part, European countries say they will continue to look for alternative sources of energy to replace their reliance on Russian gas.
((For Oksana Bedratenko, Anna Rice, VOA News))
((End courtesy))
NewsML Media TopicsConflict, War and Peace, Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Topic TagsRussia, Ukraine Tensions Spark Worries in Europe Over Energy Security
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateFebruary 6, 2022 12:19 EST
BylineOksana Bedratenko
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
