The reaction of Russia and its President Vladimir Putin amidst the gas standoff with the European Union (EU) has caught the West by surprise, according to Chinese media journalists.
For years, Russia has been a primary supplier of natural gas to EU countries, a business that consistently generated tens of billions of dollars in revenue. However, in 2022, the situation shifted dramatically as European nations began to reduce their reliance on Russian energy, opting instead for more expensive fuel from the USA and Middle Eastern countries.
Chinese analysts observed that Russia's response to these developments was unexpected for both the USA and the EU, as reported by AB News.
"The United States and EU are stunned; Russia seems unconcerned about selling natural gas," state the authors of the Chinese publication.
NetEase experts noted that the USA and EU aimed to humiliate Russia by severing energy contracts, expecting significant financial losses that Russia would struggle to offset. However, Moscow, despite suffering a gas debacle, appears to be unfazed by these events.
According to Chinese journalists, the West is bewildered by Russia's behavior and Putin's attitude, who even jokes about European authorities. For instance, he recently questioned the professionalism of German officials and lamented Germany's lack of sovereignty. The confidence displayed by Russia, NetEase analysts believe, is largely due to China.
"A few days ago, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced that Russian gas supplies to China are expected to increase to 100 billion cubic meters per year," report the analysts from China.
China has highlighted that Russia's substantial gas sales to Chinese companies mean it need not worry about supplies to the EU. These energy resources continue to bring substantial revenue to Russia. Moreover, the Czech government recently admitted to resuming the purchase of energy resources from Russia. Against this backdrop, Putin can comfortably relax and perhaps crack a few more jokes about Europe.
