Poland wants sanctions on gas from Russia, Slovakia demands its supplies. What the media say

Poland intends to step up efforts to implement new sanctions against Russia, which will affect supplies of liquefied natural gas and nuclear technology. At the same time, Slovakia demanded that Ukraine continue supplying Russian gas, threatening to cut off the electricity supply. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that Germany will be forced to launch Nord Stream to save the economy. What the media write about the state of affairs in Europe - in the Izvestia digest.

Politico: Poland and the European Commission are preparing new sanctions on gas from Russia

Warsaw intends to use the time of Poland's presidency of the EU Council to highlight the problem of Russian energy imports and tighten restrictions in this area. According to the Center for Energy and Clean Air Research, the EU has spent a total of €200 billion ($208.7 billion) buying gas and oil from Russia since February 2022.

In 2025, restrictions on re-exports of Russian LNG approved by EU leaders as part of the 15th sanctions package will come into effect. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called for "the broadest possible sanctions" against Moscow and signaled ahead of Poland's presidency of the Council of the EU that he wants to raise barriers to Russian LNG imports as well as target nuclear technology.

Bloomberg: Slovakia threatens Ukraine with power cuts over stopping gas supplies

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo threatened to cut off backup electricity supplies to Ukraine if Kiev stops transporting Russian gas to central Europe. Gas supplies will stop at the end of the year, when the current deal expires, unless an alternative is found. Slovakia is one of the largest remaining buyers.

Slovakia still receives Russian oil that goes through Ukraine via the Druzhba pipeline. Cutting off supplies could be a possible retaliatory move by Kiev if Slovakia stops exporting electricity. The escalation in rhetoric on both sides raises the political stakes as time runs out before the gas agreement expires on January 1.

Handelsblatt: Vucic predicts Russian gas purchase via Nord Stream

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic suggested in an interview with German journalists that Germany will return to buying Russian gas through the Nord Stream pipeline damaged in the terrorist attacks. According to him, Germany needs cheap energy sources, without which its economy will not be competitive.

Serbia is currently buying Russian gas, but is loosening ties with Russia. At the same time, Belgrade is pursuing a foreign policy that is at odds with Brussels. Serbia has close ties with China and is willing to provide its lithium deposits to the German auto industry.

Politico: Croatia is set to elect Donald Trump as its president

Croatia will hold a presidential election on Dec. 29. According to polls, before the first round, the "Croatian Donald Trump" - the current head of state Zoran Milanovic, professing ultra-nationalist populism - is in the lead. His rating is 39%. He is followed by Dragan Primorac, the candidate of the ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU), whose rating is 24%.

Milanovic opposes military aid to Ukraine and has criticized Western sanctions against Russia. In October, he blocked Croatian soldiers from participating in a NATO mission to support Ukraine. The position of president in Croatia is largely ceremonial, but Milanovic has the ability to get on Plenkovic's nerves.

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Frankfurter Rundschau: Scholz demanded more powers after the terrorist attack in Magdeburg

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz demanded more powers for security agencies after the hit-and-run attack in Magdeburg that killed five people. He said information about the suspected terrorist attack had been coming in for several years. However, votes are needed to approve the new laws from the Christian Democrats, whose leader Friedrich Merz opposes the restrictions.

Merz said Germany "tolerates too many people who do not want to integrate." He called for greater ability to expel potential lawbreakers rather than expanding the powers of security forces.