Habeck: Russian attack on Ukraine will backfire

(25 Feb 2022) Germany's vice chancellor says Russia's attack on Ukraine is "completely illogical" and will backfire, causing western nations to stop buying Russian coal, oil and gas, an important source of income for the resource-rich country.
Robert Habeck, a powerful figure in the new German government whose portfolio includes economy and climate, said the crisis will also strengthen the case for customers of Russian fossil fuels to pursue energy independence by boosting renewable sources.
Allies such as the United States have long warned that the heavy reliance of Europe's biggest economy on Russia energy imports is a strategic risk given the growing tension with Moscow in recent years.
Until recently, Germany insisted that Russia had proved itself to be a reliable supplier and even allowed the construction of a new natural gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea despite protests from the US and other allies.
Germany halted the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project Tuesday as tensions with Russia over Ukraine escalated - a move that was applauded in Washington and Kyiv.
“I definitely think that the current situation will help the transition into renewable energy in Germany and Europe," he told The AP at his office in Berlin.
“People see that it is not only a climate-related issue, but a safety or security-related issue right now.”
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