Europe is the new Caspia

The deal, reached between Washington and Berlin on 21 June, basically approves the construction of Nord Stream 2. A gas pipeline bypassing Central Eastern Europe and delivering Russian gas to Germany.

The idea of using gas as a mean to tight Russia with Europe was floating within Russian decision-making circles already before the fall of USSR. The pipeline Yamal-Europe was born out of these plans. Obviously, it was planned and constructed in a particular international situation. Back then, decision-makers in Moscow couldn’t envisage problems with Belarus and Ukraine, and - probably - didn’t have enough technical possibilities to go underwater. Hence, a pipeline going through these former republics. 

Times changed. Moscow realized that the Yamal pipeline may prove problematic. It would allow Ukraine and Belarus to have some leverage towards them. In the end - the pipeline was going through their territories. Minsk and Kyiv proved Moscow right, both capitals were trying to benefit from the pipeline. But Moscow also used gas deliveries as a political leverage towards them.