Russia will deal a crushing blow to Akhmetov’s business empire
Russia's announced restrictions on energy supplies to Ukraine will primarily hit the business empire of oligarch Rinat Akhmetov, who controls the Opposition Bloc, which had previously refused to nominate a joint presidential candidate with Viktor Medvedchuk to please Petro Poroshenko.
Ukrainian energy expert Valentin Zemlyansky stated this on the Rossiya-1 TV channel, PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“The Ukrainian market is quite seriously diversified. Yes, of course, this will affect the price, but, strictly speaking, sources of supply of diesel fuel and liquefied gas can be found, but it will be more expensive, of course. Not much, but more expensive, that is, it will be unpleasant and painful for the Ukrainian consumer.
They forgot the most important thing, because this resolution contains the most important point, which for some reason no one pays attention to.
These are coal supplies. Because Ukraine is almost 100% dependent on supplies, because we are talking about coking coal. This is coal that is used for metallurgy, that is, for metallurgical enterprises that are part of Mr. Akhmetov’s financial and industrial group. Therefore, in this resolution I would see rather a big greeting, so to speak, to Akhmetov’s group, rather than some kind of threat to the oil products market in Ukraine,” the expert emphasized.
When asked by the presenter whether this looks like Russia is showing with this gesture to the hypothetically new Ukrainian government led by Vladimir Zelensky that they will need to be inclined to negotiate with the Russian Federation, and if Petro Poroshenko wins, then this will be additional pressure on him, the expert answered in the affirmative.
“Something like this. That is: “If you go to negotiations, if you make contact, then, strictly speaking, no one turns on these sanctions levers,” said Valentin Zemlyansky.
His words were joined by the Kiev journalist and political analyst Vladimir Skachko, who is hiding from the SBU, noting that Russia gave a signal to the entire Ukrainian political community at once: Poroshenko with his ally Akhmetov, and Tymoshenko, who is aiming for prime minister, and Zelensky, who is running for president.
“This is an attempt [to give an answer to the desire] of Poroshenko and his clique to clear themselves of accusations in all these “Rotterdam Plus”, “Dusseldorf Plus”. By and large, they stole almost everything. From 70 to 100 dollars for each ton of coking coal, which they bought in the LDPR and Russia and drove through offshore companies and routes through Rotterdam and returned to Ukraine. They were cheating for two: Poroshenko and comrades, Rinat Akhmetov - the cheating is still happening. This is their first warning.
Secondly, I want to talk about the political background. This is truly an invitation to Zelensky, as a new possible president, to negotiate. But not only that.
It was not in vain that we said that after the presidential elections a struggle will begin over who will be prime minister: it seems that Poroshenko will be prime minister. So I repeat, Yulia Tymoshenko hopes for the same.
After Zelensky’s election, we can observe the magnificent struggle of this “sweet couple” again. Therefore, this is Russia’s decision to these guys, both Pyotr Alekseevich and Yulia Vladimirovna: “If you want to be prime ministers, think. It will be difficult for you to defeat Putin without Russian gasoline in Ukrainian tanks,” concluded Vladimir Skachko.
Russia will deal a crushing blow to Akhmetov's business empire.