Ukraine, Russia and the energy crisis leaves Europe to face a dark winter, as EU admits it missed Putin warning signs

The message from the European Union's high official wasn't refined when she appeared at a serious speech carrying blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.
At her State of the Union, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen referred to as Russia's invasion of Ukraine a battle of "autocracy in opposition to democracy".
The battle dominated her handle, highlighting how Europe's path out of an power disaster is intrinsically tied to Russia's battle. Von der Leyen was additionally considerably candid in her admissions that there have been ominous warning indicators they need to not have missed.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gestures as she speaks on Ukraine at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France.
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen gestures as she speaks on Ukraine on the European Parliament in Strasbourg, jap France. (AP Picture/Jean-Francois Badias)(AP)

"I stand right here with the conviction that with the mandatory braveness and crucial solidarity, Putin will fail and Europe will prevail," she advised the plenary of the European parliament in Strasbourg, France.
Von der Leyen's speech got here at a time of monumental geopolitical and financial turmoil; with violent battle in Ukraine, the worst drought in 500-years and a spiralling power disaster.
Listed below are the details raised on the State of the Union.

The issue with Putin

Whereas the State of the Union predominantly addressed the present phases of the Ukraine battle, Von der Leyen additionally had intriguing feedback about warning indicators that have been ignored.
"One lesson from this battle is we should always have listened to those that know Putin," she mentioned.
"To Anna Politkovskaya and all of the Russian journalists who uncovered the crimes, and paid the final word value.

Russian President Vladimir Putin with a clenched fist.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Picture by way of AP)(AP)

"To our pals in Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and to the opposition in Belarus.
"We must always have listened to the voices inside our Union – in Poland, within the Baltics, and all throughout Central and Jap Europe.
"They've been telling us for years that Putin wouldn't cease."

How the EU is pushing again in opposition to Russia

Von der Leyen mentioned sanctions have left "Russia's trade in tatters".
She claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin's monetary sector was "on life assist", and that just about 1000 corporations had left Russia.
"Now we have minimize off three-quarters of Russia's banking sector from worldwide markets," Von der Leyen mentioned.

Dressed in the colors of Ukraine, European Union Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen delivers her State of the European Union address.
Dressed within the colours of Ukraine, European Union Fee Chief Ursula von der Leyen delivers her State of the European Union handle. (AP Picture/Jean-Francois Badias)(AP)

She mentioned automotive manufacturing fell by three-quarters in comparison with final yr and the nationwide airline Aeroflot was pressured to floor planes as a result of it didn't have sufficient spare components.
Von der Leyen introduced she's going to journey to Kyiv afterward Wednesday to debate European plans to assist Ukraine by additional opening its single market to Ukrainian merchandise, saying she would "talk about all this with President Zelenskyy".

The power disaster in Europe

Thousands and thousands of individuals throughout Europe are struggling to pay for electrical energy as costs soar, and winter is coming.
Russia has minimize off, or in the reduction of, pure gasoline to 13 EU member nations as retaliation for the bloc's assist of Ukraine.
Pure gasoline is used to warmth properties and generate electrical energy, and costs are presently 10 occasions larger within the EU than earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic started.
"Russia retains actively manipulating our power market," von der Leyen advised EU lawmakers on the State of the Union.

FILE - A Russian construction worker speaks on a mobile phone during a ceremony marking the start of Nord Stream pipeline construction in Portovaya Bay some 170 km north-west from St. Petersburg, Russia on April 9, 2010. Russian energy giant Gazprom said Friday, Sept. 2, 2022 that it can't resume the supply of natural gas through a key pipeline to Germany for now because of what it said was a need for urgent maintenance work, just hours before it was due to recommence deliveries.
A Russian building employee speaks on a cell phone throughout a ceremony marking the beginning of Nord Stream pipeline building in Portovaya Bay some 170 kms north-west from St. Petersburg, Russia on April 9, 2010. Russian power large Gazprom mentioned Friday, Sept. 2, 2022 that it could't resume the provision of pure gasoline by means of a key pipeline to Germany for now due to what it mentioned was a necessity for pressing upkeep work, simply hours earlier than it was attributable to recommence deliveries.(AP)

"So, this market just isn't functioning anymore."
A proposal raised within the State of the Union is to cap the income of electrical energy producers, the enormous corporations making an enormous revenue off the again of the Ukraine battle.
"These corporations are making revenues they by no means accounted for, they by no means even dreamt of," Von der Leyen mentioned.
"In these occasions, it's improper to obtain extraordinary report revenues and earnings benefiting from battle and on the again of shoppers."
The proposal may elevate 140 billion euros ($208 billion).
"They (oil, gasoline and coal corporations) must pay a fair proportion – they've to offer a disaster contribution," she mentioned.
If nothing is finished quickly, there a fears of rolling blackouts, shuttered factories and a winter recession.
You may learn the total transcript of the State of the Union right here.
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