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What was the West being told about Russian gas?
Summary
A look back at statements on gas and Ukraine in mid-November 2021, as Russian troop buildups near the border were reported.
What was the West being told about Russian gas and Ukraine in the days around 19 November 2021? Two statements from the preceding week framed the debate.
On 16 November 2021, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the west would have to choose between reliance on Russian gas and supporting Ukraine. His remarks came amid reported buildups of the Russian military near the border with Ukraine.
Three days earlier, on 13 November 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed a separate gas dispute linked to the border crisis between Belarus and the European Union. He said a threat by Belarus to cut its gas supply to Europe would breach the contract with Russia. He added that the threat may have been made in a fit of temper by Belarus's president, Alexander Lukashenko.
Taken together, the two statements showed gas supplies being discussed in connection with both the Belarus–EU border crisis and the reported military buildups near Ukraine's border.
