Daily Archives: July 17, 2022

Britains armed forces chief has dismissed speculation that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not well or could be assassinated as wishful thinking.

The UK Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin was asked if President Putin, who launched an invasion of Ukraine in February, could be toppled or face regime change.

But he told Sophie Raworth on BBC Ones Sunday Morning show: I think some of the comments that hes not well or that actually surely somebodys going to assassinate him or take him out, I think theyre wishful thinking.

As military professionals we see a relatively stable regime in Russia, President Putin has been able to quash any opposition, we see a hierarchy that is invested in President Putin and so nobody at the top has got the motivation to challenge President Putin, and that is bleak.

He said the challenge of Russia is going to endure potentially for decades in terms of Russia as a threat, and the next prime minister should know that Russia is the biggest threat to the UK.

He added: So the biggest threat is Russia, and thats Russia in all its guises when you look at it militarily.

Its land forces are probably less of a threat in the short term because of that degradation, that depletion that were seeing with their struggle in Ukraine.

But Russia continues to be a nuclear power, its got cyber capabilities, its got space capabilities, and its got particular programmes under water so it can threaten the underwater cables that allow the worlds information to transit around the whole globe.

On what Britains armed forces would look like if defence spending increased to 3% of GDP, he said: I think they would be even more modern and they would have even more punch and they would have even more impact around the world, and thats clearly a choice for government.

Reflecting on a recent visit to Kyiv, he said Ukraines army absolutely believed it will win the war.

He added: They plan to restore the whole of their territory in terms of Ukraine, and they see a Russia that is struggling, a Russia that we assess has lost more than 30% of its land combat effectiveness.

We will always give them a brief on the current situation so they are aware of where we have our armed forces

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin on how he will brief the next PM

What that actually means is 50,000 Russian soldiers that have either died or been injured in this conflict, nearly 1,700 Russian tanks destroyed, nearly 4,000 armoured fighting vehicles that belong to Russia destroyed.

On how he will brief the next Prime Minister, he added: We will always give them a brief on the current situation so they are aware of where we have our armed forces.

Thats dominated by Ukraine and the support that we are providing to Ukraine but we also try to step back and give a wider threat picture.

And then we have to remind the Prime Minister of the extraordinary responsibility they have with the UK as a nuclear power, and that is part of the initiation for a new British Prime Minister.

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Speculation about Putins assassination wishful thinking, military chief says - The Independent

A 'second wave' of Russians are now formally relocating to countries spanning Europe, the Middle East and Asia after spending time getting their affairs in order.

Natalia Kolesnikova | Afp | Getty Images

For months now, Vladimir has been preparing paperwork and getting his affairs in order for a move to France.

A visa application process that was once relatively easy is now dogged with complexity, but the 37-year-old is confident that getting his family and employees out of Russia will be worthwhile.

"On the one hand, it's comfortable to live in the country where you were born. But on the other, it's about the safety of your family," Vladimir told CNBC via video call from his office in Moscow.

For Vladimir, the decision to leave the country he has called home all his life "was not made in one day." Under President Vladimir Putin's rule, he has watched what he called the "erosion of politics and freedom" in Russia over several years. But the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine was the final straw.

"I think, in a year or two, everything will be so bad," he said of his country.

The Russian Embassy in London and Russia's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

Vladimir, whose surname has been removed due to the sensitive nature of the situation, is part of what he considers Russia's "second wave" of migration following the war.This includes those who took longer to prepare to leave the country such as people with businesses or families who wanted to let their children finish the school year before leaving.

Such flexibility was not afforded to everybody. When Moscow invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, alongside the millions of Ukrainians who were forced to flee their homes, life for some Russians became untenable overnight.

Once the flow begins and people start finding out how to do things ... that prompts more people to leave.

Jeanne Batalova

senior policy analyst, Migration Policy Institute

A "first wave" of artists, journalists and others openly opposed to Putin's regime felt they had to leave the country immediately or risk political persecution for violating the Kremlin's clampdown on public dissent.

"A lot of people got notices saying that they were traitors," said Jeanne Batalova, senior policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, noting the backlash suffered by some Russians even from neighbors.

But as the war rages on, more Russians are deciding to pack up and leave.

"The way migration works is that once the flow begins and people start finding out how to do things get a flat, apply for asylum, find a job or start a business that prompts more people to leave. It becomes a self-fulfilling cycle," Batalova said.

There is no concrete data on the number of Russians who have left the country since the start of the war. However, one Russian economist put the total at 200,000 as of mid-March.

That figure is likely to be far higher now, according to Batalova, as tens of thousands of Russians have relocated to Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Israel, the Baltic states and beyond.

"If you look at the various destinations where people have gone, these numbers do ring true," she said. And that's not even counting Russia's large overseas diaspora, many of whom are in Southeast Asia, who have chosen not to return home following the invasion. Batalova puts that figure at around 100,000.

There is no concrete data on the number of people who have fled Russia following the war, although economists put estimates at 200,000 to 300,000 as of mid-March.

Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

In the tech sector alone, an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 professionals left in the first month of the war, with a further 70,000 to 100,000 expected to follow soon thereafter, according to a Russian IT industry trade group.

Some start-up founders like Vladimir, who runs a software service for restaurants, have decided to relocate their businesses and staff overseas, choosing countries with access to capital, such as France, the U.K, Spain and Cyprus. Vladimir is moving his wife and school-age child, as well as his team of four and their families, to Paris.

They follow more mobile independent Russia tech workers who have already flocked to low-visa countries including Indonesia, Thailand and Turkey.

You're seeing a massive brain drain. The disruption for talented people is enormous.

Then, there's a third group of tech workers at larger Russian IT companies who are leaving more out of obligation than choice.

Mikhail Mizhinsky, founder of Relocode, a company that helps tech businesses relocate, said these people faced a particularly difficult situation.

Many have received ultimatums from overseas customers who are ceasing doing business with Russia. For them, it's a toss-up between low costs in Bulgaria, Russian influence in Serbia and tax benefits in Armenia, according to Mizhinsky.

"Most of them don't necessarily want to leave Russia, where their home is," he said. "But, on the other hand, they have their clients who buy their IT outsourced products and services who demanded them to leave. Many got letters from clients who said they would terminate their contracts if they did not leave Russia."

The tech sector is one among several professional services industries that have seen an exodus of talent from Russia's larger cities, as people reject the war and worsening business conditions.

Scott Antel, an international hospitality and franchise lawyer who spent almost two decades working in Moscow, has so far this year helped five friends relocate from Russia to Dubai, in several cases purchasing properties for them, sight unseen, to expedite the move.

"You're seeing a massive brain drain," said Antel, whose departing friends span the legal and consulting professions, as well as hospitality and real estate. "The disruption for talented people is enormous and is going to be even more so."

Around 15,000 millionaires are expected to leave Russia this year, adding to the increasing number of people migrating away amid President Putin's war.

Oleg Nikishin | Getty Images News

"A lot of them feel that they've lost their country," he continued. "Realistically, is this going to turn around in a couple of years? No."

And it's not just professionals seeking out the stability of overseas markets like Dubai. Having remained politically neutral amid international sanctions, the emirate has emerged as a destination of choice for Russia's uber rich, too, with many shifting their wealth into its luxury property market.

Indeed, around 15,000 millionaires are expected to leave Russia this year, according to a June report from London-based citizenship-by-investment firm Henley & Partners, with Dubai ranking as the top location for the super rich.

The ongoing second exodus comes amid reports that some of Russia's earlier emigres have returned home, because of both family and business ties, as well as difficulties as a result of travel restrictions and banking sanctions.

However, Batalova said she expects such returns to be short-lived.

"My bet would be that the emigration from Russia will continue, and when people do go back it will be to sell possessions, homes, and then leave again," she said.

But questions remain over the reception some Russian emigres may receive in their host country, she said.

They don't want Russia to come along later and try to protect Russians in those host countries as they did with the diaspora in Ukraine.

Jeanna Batalova

senior policy analyst, Migration Policy Institute

"In this conflict, Russia is viewed as the aggressor, and that attitude is passed down onto the emigres. Even if they [Russian migrants] are against the system, the public sentiment can be transferred to the new arrivals," Batalova said.

Indeed, there is a very real fear among some host countries that an influx of Russian migrants could see them become a target for a future Russian invasion. Moscow has maintained that part of the justification for its so-called special military operation in Ukraine was the "liberation" of Donbas, an area of east Ukraine which is home to a significant number of ethnic Russians.

According to Batalova, countries like Georgia, Armenia and the Baltic states all of which have suffered at the hands of Russian aggression in the past, and have existing concerns over their national security are likely to be particularly anxious.

"They don't want Russia to come along later and try to protect Russians in those host countries as they did with the diaspora in Ukraine," she noted.

Still, Vladimir is undeterred. He is hopeful for a fresh start in his family's search for a new home outside of Russia.

"Regarding the negativity, I'm sure it's not true for 100% for all people. In any country, and with any passport, people can understand one another," he said.

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A second wave of Russians is fleeing Putin's regime - CNBC

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul has called on the U.S. to supply Ukraine with more weapons in order to quickly end the conflict with Russia.

McFaul shared a report by the U.S. Department of Defense that highlighted the success Ukraine has been having with the U.S.-provided HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems).

"Great News! So why not provide more? Help speed the end to Putin's barbaric invasion," McFaul wrote as a caption as he shared the report.

The M142 HIMARS system allows for the launching of multiple, precision-guided rockets. Already, the U.S. had provided eight of the systems to Ukraine and last week promised to send an additional four, for a total of 12 of the systems.

A senior military official spoke at a Pentagon briefing on Friday and gave an indication the use of HIMARS was impacting Russia's ability to fight on the frontlines in Ukraine.

"I think there has been significant impact on what's going on, on the front lines," the official said.

"If you think about the fact that the Ukrainians have been talking about a number of the targets [they] are hitting... they're spending a lot of time striking targets like ammunition, supplies, other logistical supplies, command and control.

"And all those things have a direct impact on the ability to conduct operations on the front line.

"Although they're not shooting the HIMARS, at the front lines, they hare having a very, very significant effect on that."

Military analyst Michael Kofman told the War on the Rocks podcast that while the HIMARS add to the capability of Ukraine's forces in targeting Russian logistics sites, he expected Moscow's forces would "begin to adapt and change the way they operate to make them less effective."

He added that their effectiveness will also be limited by how much ammunition it can get for the systems. "No matter how many batteries Ukraine receives of HIMARS," he said, "the issue of ammo production...will be, I think, an enduring choke point."

On July 12, McFaul issued a similar statement calling for the U.S. to support Ukraine with more weapons.

"The faster we send more long-range artillery and multiple rocket launches to Ukraine, the faster this horrible, barbaric Russian invasion of Ukraine will end."

McFaul has remained outspoken of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and warned of the wider danger it posses to the world.

"Ukrainians are still fighting and dying for their sovereignty and democracy against an enemy that threatens not only Ukraine but European security as well," he wrote on Twitter on July 14.

"Please don't forget about them. #StandWithUkraine."

On June 30, while at the NATO summit, President Joe Biden said the United States would provide another $800 million in weapons and military aid to Ukraine, according to a Reuters report.

Biden added that the U.S. and its NATO allies were committed in standing up to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I don't know how it's going to end, but it will not end with Russia defeating Ukraine. Ukraine has already dealt a severe blow to Russia," Biden said told a news conference.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment.

The rest is here:

U.S. Should Send More HIMARS To 'Help Speed The End' Of Putin's War: McFaul - Newsweek

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Dmitry Bykov was a force in Russian cultural life; now hes effectively in exile, probably for as long as Putin remains in power. Bykov speaks with David Remnick about the state of Russiaand Russiansunder Putinism, which he describes as the final stage of Russian decline. His country, he says, is the land of the most free slaves. Plus, the YouTuber known as Nerdwriter talks with the producer Ngofeen Mputubwele about the essay in the age of the Internet. And Kelefa Sanneh, who writes about music and more for The New Yorker, recommends some of the notable songs playing on country radio right now.

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

Dmitry Bykov was a force in Russian cultural life; now hes effectively in exile, probably for as long as Putin remains in power. The regime is the final stage of Russian decline.

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

Evan Puschak, posting as the Nerdwriter, helped pioneer the form of the video essay, tackling culture, politics, and psychology. He speaks with Ngofeen Mputubwele.

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

In country music, you havent quite made it until the radio stations are playing your song, the writer says. He recommends songs by hitmakers new and old.

The New Yorker Radio Hour is a co-production of WNYC Studios and The New Yorker.

Originally posted here:

The Writer Dmitry Bykov on Putins Russia, the Land of Most Free Slaves - The New Yorker

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once the richest man in Russia and now known as the "Kremlins leading critic-in-exile", knows exactly how the West can twist Vladimir Putins arm and force Russia to the negotiating table with Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron has been particularly active in trying to negotiate a settlement with Putin but has so far failed. He even suggested Ukraine should cede territory to Russia so Putin can somehow deliver some sort of victory to Russian citizens.

When asked whether Putin should be given concession as French President Emmanuel Macron did, Mr Khodorkovsky told CBC News: "Im sure its not right. You need to show Putin strength.

"You need to show him that if he doesnt stop, then he will be stopped. You need to give Ukraine three, four or five weapon systems that are equal to Putins military weapons.

"Only at the moment you show Putin that if he doesnt stop, he will be stopped can negotiations begin."

He added the main flaw of Western leaders is their incapacity to negotiate with "criminal" leaders.

He said: "In their lives, many Western leaders never communicated much with criminals.

"The communication rules in a criminals world are completely different from the rules that theyre used to.

"Like the respectable Mr Macron whos been trying to negotiate with Putin when Putin considers himself with the upper hand.

"This only provokes Putin to be even more aggressive. Thats what Im afraid Western leaders dont understand."

READ MORE:Russia closing in on 'last puzzle piece' to control Black Sea

When asked how Putins regime will end, he said: "As long as Putin is able to show the Russian army and the people that hes winning, theres no threat to him.

"But at the moment that he loses, right at that moment, the situation will become absolutely different for him and most likely hell lose power along with his life."

In the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union, he acquired Yukos, the worlds most valuable oil company and made a fortune until he grew critical of Putins regime and its rampant corruption.

He was charged and found guilty of embezzlement in a trial that was viewed as politically motivated. Eight years after Putin pardoned him, he wants to help the West bring the Ukraine war to a halt.

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Excerpt from:

'He will be stopped' Putin critic reveals how NATO can force Russia into peace talks - Express

Before Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, the country's technology sector relied heavily on Western technology and investment - but sanctions have caused a shortfall of vital foreign parts that are used to create cars, household appliances and electronics.

Most of the world's biggest chip manufacturers including Intel and Samsung have halted business with Russiaoverits invasion of Ukraine.

It came after the UK, US and Europe imposed export controls on products using chips made or designed in the Western countries.

This has created a shortfall of the types of chips that go into creating a range of domestic products including cars, household appliances and military equipment.

Supplies of more advanced semiconductors, which are used to produce electronics and IT hardware, have also been severely cut.

Meanwhile, Western sanctions have also meant Russia's ability to import foreign tech - such as smartphones, has also been drastically curtailed.

Samuel Bendett, an AI and IT expert who specialises in Russian military technology, toldExpress.co.uk: "If these sanctions impact some of the microelectronic manufacturing, which is supposed to make its way into consumer electronic items, then Russian consumers may be impacted already.

"Customers may now not have access to previously available Western technologies and a lot of critical projects have been frozen".

Mr Bendett said Russia found itself "in a bad situation" because prior to the war the country was almost "completely dependent" on Western technologies.

READ MORE:Russia closing in on 'last puzzle piece' to control Black Sea

Now, that a lot of these technologies are no longer available, the sector is struggling to develop new technologies and keep critical projects ongoing.

"Entire supply routes for servers to computers to iPhones - everything - is gone", Financial Times reported a Western chip executive saying.

With the country unable to export much of its raw materials, import critical goods or access global financial markets, some economists predict Russia's gross domestic product will reduce by as much as 15 percent this year.

The sanctions, along with the already significant exodus of IT workers in the country, will likely impact the availability of tech items including certain phones, cars and other products that relied on foreign parts.

Mr Bendett said: "Entities and organisations that built data centres in Russia don't have access to imported technologies.

"Obviously, it has been over four months since the start of the war and many Russian supply chains relied on Western tech before the sanctions".

He added that it may also impact the "Russian efforts to invest in domestic high-tech manufacturing".

The Kremlin is now concentrating a lot of effort and investment into its IT sector to ensure it becomes self-reliant and a lot less dependent on Western hardware.

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Putin humiliated as technology shortfall from sanctions leave 'critical projects frozen' - Express

Russian President Vladimir Putin during the CSTO summit in Moscow on May 16, 2022.Getty Images

Russia's Swiss embassy threatened a newspaper with legal action over an image it published.

The the Neue Zrcher Zeitung included an image of Putin as a clown in an article on memes.

Officials said "insults and fakes" were beyond the limits of free speech, and threatened to report it.

Russian officials threatened a Swiss newspaper with a legal action after it published an image depicting President Vladimir Putin as a clown.

Zurich newspaper the Neue Zrcher Zeitung, published the piece "Between Superheroes and Villains: The Power of Memes in the Ukraine War." It discussed how viral images played a part in discussion of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The lead image featured Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Iron Man next Putin with a clown nose and colorful face paint.

Its intent appears to have been to illustrate the type of imagery used, rather than to argue that the newspaper or its writers consider Putin to be a clown.

Russia's embassy in Switzerland responded with a letter to the newspaper's editor, describing itself as "extremely outraged" by the image.

The letter argued that freedom of speech was not an excuse to publish "insults and fakes."

It took special offense at the rainbow colors on Putin's face, citing his hostility to LGBTQ people.

It also objected to what it called the depiction in the article of Putin as a war criminal, a common charge among Ukrainians, human-rights observers and Western officials.

The message ended with a reference to Switzerland's defamation laws and said the officials "reserve the right... to apply to the Swiss law enforcement agencies" to take action over the image.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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Russia threatens Swiss newspaper with legal action for publishing image of Putin with a clown nose - Yahoo News

One question is dominating the energy industry: will Vladimir Putin turn the tap back on? This week the Kremlin-controlled energy firm Gazprom shut off gas supplies through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline for maintenance until 21 July, having already cut its output to less than 40% of capacity. Now there are growing concerns that the Russian president may simply refuse to reactivate it.

This week energy executives at the Aurora consultancys conference in Oxford were asked to vote on whether the supplies would return. A forest of confident arms shot up for yes, a similar amount for no. Only Putin knows the answer.

Fears for gas supplies have led European nations to rapidly fill up their storage capacity before the winter. Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has accused Russia of conducting gas blackmail. By contrast, nations with closer links to Russia, including Belarus and Turkey, have seen little disruption.

Although Moscow had a record of restricting gas flows to Europe as part of past disputes with Ukraine including in 2005-06, 2009 and 2017 many in the industry had assumed that because the Kremlin kept supplies flowing throughout the cold war, it would not resort to cutting off its largest market. However, Ben van Beurden, CEO of Shell, said this week that Putin has now shown he is able and willing to weaponise supplies.

The strategy has the apparent aims of weakening Kyivs allies and, potentially, turning nations on one another. This week Hungarys pro-Putin prime minister, Viktor Orbn, said it would halt gas exports to its neighbours. The move undermines a regulation that made solidarity among European countries mandatory to prevent the supply cuts seen after the 2017 Russia-Ukraine gas dispute.

Less gas sold in Europe means less money for the Kremlins war chest, and the EU has committed to cutting Russian imports by two-thirds by year end on that basis. However, despite EU leaders agreeing a partial embargo on Russian oil, any outright ban on its gas appears unlikely given how much many of its members rely on it. So which countries are most vulnerable to Putins pressure as he turns the screw?

The European economic powerhouse has been left most exposed by the sudden lack of Russian gas after the closure of Nord Stream 1, which runs from Vyborg, north-west of St Petersburg, under the sea to Germanys Baltic coast.

The German economy minister, Robert Habeck, says the Kremlin is using gas as a weapon and admits his country had made a grave political mistake in becoming too dependent on Russian supplies. Germany imported 59.2bn cubic meters of gas through Nord Stream 1 in 2021 and had hoped to double that via a new sister pipeline, Nord Stream 2, but suspended those plans days before the invasion of Ukraine.

Germany has hastily tried to wean itself off Russian gas to distance itself from Putin since the war. Meanwhile, Gazprom cut supplies through Nord Stream 1 to 40% of its capacity in mid-June. As a result, Germanys dependence on Russian gas has fallen from 55% of total consumption to 35% since the war. But the government has still been forced to declare a gas crisis, asking industrial users to slash usage and encouraging councils to turn off traffic lights at night, cut the use of air conditioning and stop lighting up historic buildings.

Investors are at their most pessimistic over the German economy since the throes of the eurozone debt crisis in 2011, amid fears it could slump into recession.

Italians are currently battling a heatwave but staying warm this winter remains high on the agenda in a country with the oldest population in Europe. Russian gas imports accounted for 18% of consumption before the war in Ukraine and are largely piped via the Trans Austria gas pipeline.

Power group Eni said this week that Gazprom would cut supplies to Italy by a third, on top of cuts of 60% since war broke out. Confindustria, the association representing Italian industries, has said a complete halt could see its GDP drop by 2%. Rising bond yields indicate markets are increasingly concerned over the countrys abilities to repay its huge debts.

Italys gas storage sites are now about 60% full and plans have been floated to ask consumers to turn down their heating this winter and spend less time showering.

SPP, the main Slovak gas importer, receives most of its gas from Russia and even Zelenskiy acknowledges the Slovaks cannot immediately cut off that source. SSP has managed to ramp up liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Norway and other nations until the end of the year. A new Polish-Slovak interconnector pipeline, due to open later this year, is also being tested.

Austria gets 80% of its gas from Russia and its storage depots meet just 39% of its annual needs. The government has pledged to spend 6.6bn on building up reserves although Haidach, one of Europes biggest underground gas reservoirs, is unlikely to be filled due to tensions between its joint owners a German and an Austrian firm and Gazprom.

The Dutch energy ministry has said the country has managed to meet its goal of ending its need for Russian gas for domestic use. However, as a huge storage and transport hub, it could take a knock from reduced flows. In May, Gazprom halted gas supplies to Dutch company GasTerra after it refused to meet Kremlin demands that all gas be paid for in roubles.

France is less dependent than some of its neighbours on Russia, which supplies about 17% of its gas. But replacing energy output is complicated by the fact many French nuclear plants, which could have picked up the slack, are out of action because of maintenance and repairs. Russia briefly cut off supplies to France in June and Pariss finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, this week described a Russian gas cutoff as the most likely scenario.

He said the country would initially ask households and businesses to cut energy consumption and then later look into constructing new infrastructure such as a floating LNG plant. French tyre giant Michelin said it had converted its boilers to ensure they are capable of running on oil as well as gas.

The Spanish prime minister, Pedro Snchez, is facing geopolitical tensions over the countrys gas supplies on all fronts. His decision to support Morocco in a dispute over Western Sahara prompted a reduction in gas flows from Algeria, which has now been overtaken by Russia as Spains second largest supplier, behind the US. Russian supplies are entirely LNG while Algerias gas is largely piped to Spain.

Sanchez has talked up Spains existing facilities the country accounts for 37% of the EUs capacity for re-gasification, where LNG is turned back into natural gas so could ramp up exports into the rest of Europe. Spain and neighbouring Portugal have also introduced a temporary cap on the wholesale price of gas.

Russia cut off Poland and Bulgaria in late April after they refused to comply with its demands to pay in rubles. Poland had received around half of its gas from Russia, with 9.9bn cubic meters of the 20bn it uses a year coming via the Yamal pipeline. However, it relies on coal for most of its power and has already filled up its gas storage sites.

A 1996 contract with Gazprom had been due to end this year and Poland had no intention of renewing it. Tom Marzec-Manser, head of gas analytics at consultancy ICIS, said: Poland is not in a bad position because it has not trusted Russia for many years. It began this conversation about security of energy supply much earlier than other countries.

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Gas blackmail: how Putins weaponised energy supplies are hurting Europe - The Guardian