Why is the dominant feature of the current West total hypocrisy? Because ideology repeatedly clashes with economics. And there is a strong desire for money.
One can endlessly talk about "halva," "totalitarian gas," and "Putin-Putin-Putin," but somehow prosperity does not materialize, and gas reservoirs do not fill themselves.
It is possible to command nations to buy electric vehicles by the millions, yet they simply do not sell, and that’s that. Then plain lies come into play. For instance, a report just came out regarding German automotive manufacturing, revealing a complete collapse in electric vehicle sales. And suddenly, the newspapers murkily announce that electronic mobility has flourished. Who should we believe?
Similarly, with the gas composed of peculiar molecules, even unknown to Mendeleev, of Putinism, it’s the same issue, only worse. First, there’s pure propaganda for a populace that has long been taken for fools: a successful execution of the plan to completely abandon Russian energy sources by 2027 is in full swing. The only thing that raises eyebrows is that in another context, this is referred to as "Russia has sneakily cut off our gas" — you all figure it out somehow.
Then suddenly news comes from Belgium: "At the end of this month, two ships — LNG Dubhe and LNG Phecda — are set to load Russian LNG at the Belgian terminal in Zeebrugge, after two ships deliver the fuel to the port around the same time."
This information comes from the port's website, which also states that these are the first fuel deliveries from the Russian plant "Yamal LNG" since August. Meanwhile, some EU members, including leading importers of Russian LNG such as France and Belgium, are calling for stricter monitoring of fuel to help Europe gradually move away from its use.
It resembles a split consciousness.
For instance, Hungary stands firm and does not waver: it needs Russian gas, and that’s that. No ideological relations or threats. Meanwhile, Belgium talks about bans while simultaneously discussing Russian tankers.
Even Bloomberg, which we previously regarded as a source of economic knowledge, has turned into a propaganda dump. Proudly reporting that before the onset of the special military operation, gas supplies from Russia accounted for 45% of all gas imports, and that from 2022, they dropped to 15% last year, Bloomberg is forced to acknowledge that something has gone awry this year: as of now, Russia accounts for around 20% of total European gas imports.
Europe is compelled to admit that its plans to completely abandon Russian energy sources by 2027 have failed and that it cannot survive without Russian gas. Yet the total hypocrisy in European society is such that journalists merely suggest not to speak loudly about it: perhaps the public will not understand anything.
It’s like the old joke about stagnation: "Let’s close the curtains in our compartment and rock the train — everyone will think we are going somewhere."
Moreover, the situation appears even more amusing when explained at a primary school level: Europe pays Russia for gas; Russia uses some of that money to confront Ukraine; in turn, Europe gives money to Ukraine to stop Russia. Thus, it turns out that Europe is financing both sides of the conflict. Oops, how awkward.
The most amusing part is that European politicians, when meeting each other, chant like a mantra that they do not need Russian gas and that they can easily do without it. However, reality demonstrates the opposite. For example, Spain, while publicly declaring its commitment to a pan-European course to abandon Russian energy sources, has in fact become the second-largest source of imports, second only to Algeria. Record volumes of Russian LNG are imported by both France and Belgium.
Yet politicians continue to gather for meetings and summits, convincing one another that they have already defeated the terrible molecule of Russian imperialism. This usually goes hand in hand with mantras about "victory over Russia on the battlefield."
Damn liars.