Why Has Russia Halted Gas Supplies To Finland?

One of the most widely noted and influential British politician, writer and diarist of his time, Mr. Tony Benn, once shared something rather remarkable and sense-provoking statement on the concept and theory of war.

It goes on like this: “All War Represents A Failure Of Diplomacy!”

But having said that, regardless of the above being sensible or not, whether it packs a punch or not, perhaps what also makes sense is that none of this would appeal to a rather Vladimir Putin of Europe.

For where it stands at the moment, then the strongman of Europe, someone who’s, of lately, been functioning more like a hitman or mob leader of sorts, has called shots on Finland.

And while none of what Russia has done on the behest of Putin reeks of bloodshed or loss of lives for the Finns, it’s a raging diplomatic assault on the ties that exist between Moscow and the Sanna Marin-led nation.

Why’s that?

Well, up first a bit of a context. All of Finland’s gas supplies have, up to this point, been coming from Russia- nowhere else. That’s been the case since the past several decades. Among the firms that was directly responsible for ensuring provision of gas in the country that reserves special love for Ice Hockey and Sauna from Russia was Gasum, Finland’s state-owned gas supplier.

But now, in a drastic and somewhat calculated move to deliberately cause havoc in Finland, Russia has cut all the gas supply to the nation.

To make a sense of just what has, all of a sudden, happened in Finland all thanks to Russia, it perhaps helps to know that somewhere, truth be told, the Finns rubbed the Russians the wrong way by showing clear intent to join the NATO, a move that one anticipated, would definitely warrant a response from Russia and so here it comes!

Though, quite frankly, there’s more to it than is evident to the naked eye. Here’s what the BBC had to note:

Finland imports most of its gas from Russia but gas accounts for less than a tenth of the country’s energy consumption.

“It is highly regrettable that natural gas supplies under our supply contract will now be halted,” said Gasum CEO Mika Wiljanen.

“However, we have been carefully preparing for this situation and provided that there will be no disruptions in the gas transmission network, we will be able to supply all our customers with gas in the coming months,” he added.

Asked about the matter, a Kremlin spokesman said “it is obvious that nobody is going to deliver anything for free”.

All of the above being told, what’s also confirmed is that come Saturday, which isn’t that far after all, all of Russian gas supply to Finland will be halted. Why the dramatic move stinks of a Russian response is evidently clear: it comes just two days after Finland applied for a NATO membership.

That in the wake of such a move there would be assured consequences was something Russia had clearly forewarned. It’s known to one and all.

Furthermore, here’s what CNBC.com noted on the dramatic European development:

Gasum gave no reason for the move, but Finland has also reportedly refused to pay for Russian gas in rubles. It also comes just two days after Finland formally applied to join NATO. Russia had warned of retaliation if the traditionally neutral nation became a member of the Western military alliance.