![]() The statement is a strong signal that energy supplies to Europe remain at risk unless the West eases sanctions imposed over Ukraine. Russian natural gas giant Gazprom has said sanctions are still hampering maintenance of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline. "We are open to discussion to donate those MIG-29s to Ukraine but certainly this will require, I would say, a broader discussion about taking into account financial aspects and all other aspects of delivery so no decision has been made yet." "Immediately when we ground them and the Czech and Polish will take over air policing, we can discuss about the future of the MIG-29s," Mr Nad said, speaking in English.īut he underlined that his country could not just give them away without replacement aircraft or money. "If you sit on the fence with President Putin he will in the end eat the fence and then eat you," Mr Wallace said.Īsked by Sky News about whether Slovakia would consider giving its MIG-29 jets to Ukraine, the Slovakian defence minister said the 11 jets were set to stop being operated by the Slovakian Air Force from the end of August, with Czech and Polish aircraft expected to take over protecting Slovakia's air space from the start of September. The British minister applauded Slovakia's support to Ukraine in its war against Russia's invasion and offered a word of caution to any state that might choose to hedge its bets. ![]() The comments were made during a joint news conference with British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace who was on a visit to Bratislava on Monday. He said each MIG-29 was worth about €35m (£30m). Slovakian defence minister Jaroslav Nad said his country was not big enough to be able unilaterally to gift the warplanes - which Ukrainian pilots also operate so could easily use - so would need allies to offer replacement aircraft or cash. Slovakia is open to talks about transferring its fleet of 11 MIG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, writes Sky's security and defence editor Deborah Haynes, who is in Bratislava. She added, however, that the current global food crisis is not a price crisis alone, and that man-made conflict, climate shocks and the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to drive up global food insecurity even if Friday's deal holds. ![]() ![]() Countries dependent on grain supplies from the Black Sea would likely be the first to feel a positive impact," a WFP spokesperson told Reuters. "We're optimistic the deal could lead to improvements in global food prices. The WFP itself has had to cut aid this year in key hunger hotspots like Yemen and South Sudan due to global inflation and critical funding gaps, both exacerbated by the Ukraine conflict. Ukraine and Russia are major grains exporters and the port blockade has trapped tens of millions of tonnes of grain in the country.Īlong with Western sanctions on Russia, it has sent energy and food prices soaring, sparking protests in developing countries that depend on Black Sea grains. Russia, Ukraine, the United Nations and Turkey signed a deal on Friday aimed at allowing safe passage for ships going in and out of three Ukrainian Black Sea ports that have been blocked by Russia since Moscow's 24 February invasion. The World Food Programme (WFP) has said it is optimistic about a UN-brokered deal to reopen Ukrainian ports for grain exports but warned the agreement alone will not solve the global food crisis even if it is implemented effectively. ![]() Politicians in Europe have said Russia could cut off gas flows this winter, which would thrust Germany into recession and lead to soaring prices for consumers already grappling with higher prices for food and energy. The European Union has repeatedly accused Russia of resorting to energy blackmail, while the Kremlin says the disruption has been caused by maintenance issues and the effect of Western sanctions. The Dutch front-month gas contract, the European benchmark, was up 9.2% after the news. Nord Stream 1 is the single biggest Russian gas link to Europe, with a capacity of 55 billion cubic metres a year. Germany said it saw no technical reason for the latest reduction, which comes as Russia and the West exchange economic blows in response to what Moscow calls its special military operation in Ukraine. Russian state-owned Gazprom said flows would fall to 33 million cubic metres per day from 4am GMT (5am UK time) on Wednesday because it needed to halt the operation of a Siemens gas turbine at a compressor station on instructions from an industry watchdog. Russia has tightened its gas squeeze on Europe as Gazprom said supplies through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany would drop to just 20% of capacity. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |