According to the results of the first half of the year, Russian energy giant Gazprom has set a new historical record for gas exports. The company sent 99.9 billion cubic meters of gas abroad.
In general, in the first six months of this year, foreign gas exports increased by 25.7%: in Romania by 264%, in Turkey by 209.3%, in Serbia by 10%, and in Germany by 43.4%. Other foreign partners also pumped up Russian gas supplies: Italy by 14.1%, France by 15.1%, Poland by 18.6%, Bulgaria by 42.6%, and Greece by 24%.
High demand for gas in Europe allowed Moscow to use gas supplies as political leverage. Gazprom has once again refused to book additional transit capacity through Ukraine, even taking into account the fact that other export gas pipelines will undergo scheduled repairs. Therefore, the company has once again shown the world that gas is not only a commercial product but also a perfect tool of influence. Europe is too dependent on Russian gas. For this reason, it has to turn a blind eye to some problems. The gas shortage will inevitably lead to an increase in its cost in the region. Europe criticized Gazprom because of the company's unwillingness to increase fuel supplies, calling the leadership of the energy giant opportunists.
