Russia flexes its muscles over gas supply to Europe
Russian state-owned gas giant Gazprom is seeking to take over gas pipelines and supply companies in Europe. If denied, Gazprom could divert its gas supplies away from Europe.
We may not have another Cold War on our hands, but relations between Russia and Europe have cooled considerably over the past few weeks. The state-owned gas giant Gazprom, the third-biggest company in the world, which is seeking to expand in Europe by taking over gas pipeline and supply companies, has said that if it is denied access to European markets, it might divert its gas supplies to Asia and the US in future.
The EU has been trying to persuade Russia to grant European firms access to its gas market in return for access to European gas pipeline and supply companies. But "Gazprom wants its side of the deal without offering anything in return", says Richard Orange in The Business. Russia is "flexing its muscles to recover its former superpower's swagger" on the world stage. US vice-president Dick Cheney last week warned Moscow not to use oil and gas supplies as "tools of intimidation and blackmail". Meanwhile, with the London flotation of state-owned oil major Rosneft looming, the London Stock Exchange has warned Russian president Vladimir Putin that unless Russian firms improve their transparency and corporate governance, they might have trouble raising money from flotations.
But amid talk of Russian oil and gas imperialism, investors see Gazprom and Rosneft as "government-favoured profit machines", says Edward Hadas on Breakingviews. No wonder, given Gazprom's tenfold rise since 2003 and Rosneft's growth prospects. But investors should tread carefully, says The Washington Post's Allen Sloan. After all, Rosneft looks promising largely because the Russian government confiscated the assets of Yukos, a rival company. With the rule of law yet to take root in Russia, there's no guarantee that the government will respect Rosneft shareholders' rights. And "when push comes to shove", it's a safe bet that Rosneft will act in the Kremlin's interests rather than that of its shareholders.
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Get the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis from our award-winning MoneyWeek team, to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
MoneyWeek is written by a team of experienced and award-winning journalists, plus expert columnists. As well as daily digital news and features, MoneyWeek also publishes a weekly magazine, covering investing and personal finance. From share tips, pensions, gold to practical investment tips - we provide a round-up to help you make money and keep it.
-
Michelin Key Hotels 2025: the top destinations in the world
The Michelin Keys have been awarded to spectacular hotels across the world. From Marlon Brando's private resort in Polynesia to a Bvlgari hotel in Tokyo, we look at some of the most extraordinary stays in 2025
-
MoneyWeek news quiz: How much could you get in car finance compensation?
The car finance scandal, inheritance tax, and house prices all made headlines over the past few days. Test your knowledge while reviewing this week’s top stories with MoneyWeek’s news quiz