(Natural News) The Ukrainian government has just made a move that is sure to disrupt Europe and move the continent closer to a third world war than at any time since the last global conflict ended.
Citing “force majeure” — that is, a common clause in contracts that frees both parties from liability or obligation stemming from an extraordinary event beyond their control (like a war) occurs — Kyiv’s move reduces the flow of natural gas from Russian giant Gazprom by at least one-third at a time when the European continent cannot easily replace the lost supplies.
The move was reported by Kremlin-aligned news agency Russia Today, which noted:
Russian gas conglomerate Gazprom has received no confirmation of force majeure or any obstacles to continued transit of gas through a junction in Lugansk Region, the company said on Tuesday, after Ukraine’s operator OGTSU announced it would halt further deliveries starting May 11, due to the presence of “Russian occupiers.”
Gas Transit Services of Ukraine (OGTSU) declared force majeure on Tuesday, saying that it was impossible to continue the transit of gas through a connection point and compressor station located in the Lugansk area. As OGTSU personnel “cannot carry out operational and technological control” over the Sokhranovka connector point and Novopskov compressor station, the company cannot continue to fulfill its contract obligations, it said.
Natural gas from that connection point won’t be accepted into the transit system dissecting Ukraine beginning Wednesday morning, according to OGTSU. The report noted that Sokhrankovka comprises nearly one-third of all Russian gas that passes through Ukraine into Europe, or around 32.5 million cubic meters daily, the transit operators said.
