Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks of “blackmail” against the Kremlin in his New Year’s speech
Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged citizens to continue their energy saving course and said Germany’s new floating LNG terminals would make Europe independent of Russian gas in the long term.
In his New Year’s address to the nation, Scholz acknowledged that the energy crisis triggered by Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine was a “severe test” for the continent’s largest economy.
But he said Germany had refused to give in to the Kremlin’s “blackmail” and that the new liquefied natural gas terminal in Wilhelmshaven, along with other terminals due to come online in Lubmin, Stade and Brunsbüttel in the coming weeks and months, would ensure that Germany will survive the winter.
Scholz also referred to “well-filled gas storage tanks and our joint efforts to save energy in recent months,” according to the text of his speech. “That will remain important in the coming months,” he said.
Germany relied on Russia for more than half of its gas imports before the Ukraine war and is increasingly turning to LNG to fill the gap after Moscow halted pipeline supplies.
At the same time, demand for the fuel has fallen significantly, also thanks to warmer temperatures. According to the Federal Network Agency, it fell by almost a quarter in the past week compared to the average for the past four years.
Alongside his optimistic message on energy, Scholz reiterated his government’s support for the government in Kyiv and said NATO and the European Union are more united than ever.
“Putin did not manage to overrun Ukraine in a few days as planned,” said Scholz. “On the contrary, the Ukrainians are bravely defending their homeland – also thanks to our help. And we will continue to support Ukraine.”
–With the support of Elena Mazneva.
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