No gas supply via the Nord Stream; limitation of prices for Russian oil and gas: the highlights of September 2

Russia stops the gas supply via the Nord Stream; the European Commission proposes to limit the prices of Russian gas; the G7 countries agreed to limit the prices of Russian oil; the EU will provide Ukraine with a 5 billion euro loan. Here is the main news for September 2.

Russia has completely stopped the gas supply through the Nord Stream.

The Russian company Gazprom suspended the operation of the Nord Stream gas pipelines on the night of August 31 for the maintenance of the Trent 60 DLE, which is currently the only working gas pumping unit (GPU). At first, Gazprom said that gas pumping would not take place until September 2, but now they have changed their decision.

According to the Russians, during routine work on the GPU, together with representatives of the Siemens company, they allegedly discovered an oil leak, which was, in particular, on a cable connection. The certificate for detecting the oil leak was also signed by representatives of the Siemens company, Gazprom claims.

Lastly, Russia stated that the identified malfunctions do not allow for safe, trouble-free operation of the gas turbine engine, so it is necessary to suspend the further operation of the Trent 60.

European Commission proposes to limit the prices of Russian gas

The European Commission proposes to limit the prices of Russian gas in order not to be manipulated by Putin. This was announced by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, Reuters cites. She also proposes measures to reduce electricity suppliers’ excess profits from the gas crisis.

Limitation of prices for Russian oil

The British government reports that the G7 countries have agreed to introduce a comprehensive ban on services that allow the maritime transport of crude oil and petroleum products of Russian origin around the world. Such services will be possible only if oil and oil products are purchased at a price lower than the established limit.

In addition to Russia's financing of the war in Ukraine, such a measure should limit the impact of the war on global energy prices. The G7 countries called on other states to join in establishing a price limit and implementing this restriction.

5 billion euro loan from EU for Ukraine

Almost all EU countries agreed to provide Ukraine with another 5 billion euros. Only Hungary opposed it. This was reported by Euractiv with reference to its own sources. The European Commission also confirmed its intention to offer such assistance to the media.

According to the publication's sources, the European Commission wants to officially offer Ukraine a 5 billion loan as early as next week, despite Hungary's resistance. Also, at that time, the ministers of the economy of the EU countries should sign a political declaration in support of macro-financial assistance.

After that, the proposal of the European Commission must be approved by the European Parliament and the EU Council. Euractiv sources say they want to officially support the financial support package at the General Affairs Council on September 20.

The Russians were preparing for the IAEA visit to the ZNPP

Before the arrival of the IAEA commission, the Russians removed all military equipment from the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a summary as of 18:00 on September 2.

According to the Ukrainian military command, approximately 100 pieces of equipment were moved to the Atom Energomash plant, which is also located near the nuclear power plant. The rest of the equipment was dispersed in the nearest settlements.

Unblocking the Bosphorus Strait

A cargo ship with Ukrainian corn was salvaged near Istanbul. Traffic through the Bosphorus strait has been restored after a temporary blockade, Reuters reports.

The ship Lady Zehma was heading from Chornomorsk to Italian Ravenna with 3,000 tons of corn on board. On the evening of September 1, it ran aground near Istanbul. In a few hours, the ship was towed to the anchorage in Istanbul.

As a result of the incident, there were no deaths or injuries. or environmental pollution.

Information from the front

The armed forces of Ukraine repelled Russian offensives in Avdiivka and Pivdennyi Buh directions. At the same time, the offensive of the occupiers continues in Bakhmut direction. There, the Kadyrovites units are attacking from the enemy's side, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.

The occupiers are trying to establish full control over the territory of Donetsk Oblast and to hold the captured areas of Kherson, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Mykolaiv Oblasts. The enemy continues to carry out air and missile strikes on military and civilian objects on the territory of Ukraine.