Russia was accused of “blackmail” by the Prime Minister of Poland and the European Union on Wednesday after the country’s gas giant, Gazprom, ceased all gas deliveries to Poland and Bulgaria due to their refusal to pay via Russia’s rubel.
In an attempt by Russia to increase the value of its currency after international sanctions and its war with Ukraine caused the currency to plunge in value, in March, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned all European countries that they must pay gas fees in rubles.
Amid the announcement by Gazprom on Wednesday, President of the European Union Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, called the move “unacceptable.”
“The announcement by Gazprom that it is unilaterally stopping delivery of gas to customers in Europe is yet another attempt by Russia to use gas as an instrument of blackmail,” Von Der Leyen said. “This is unjustified and unacceptable. And it shows once again the unreliability of Russia as a gas supplier.”
“It comes as no surprise that the Kremlin uses fossil fuels to blackmail us. This is something the EU Commission has been preparing for, with Member States and international partners. Our response will be immediate, united, and coordinated,” she further warned on Twitter.
On Tuesday, Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki underscored the importance of Europe weaning itself from Russian gas, insisting that “Europe cannot afford to live in constant danger from Russian aggression” and blackmail.
After Russia cut off the gas the following day, Morawiecki called it a “direct attack” on his country.
“This time, Russia has moved the borders of imperialism, gas imperialism to the next step. This is a direct attack on Poland,” the PM asserted in a speech to parliament.
Responding to a question from a reporter on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, called the possibility of a nuclear conflict and world war III “real” and not to be “underestimated.”
From a Biblical standpoint, Russia’s widespread aggression is significant.
Jesus warned of increasing “wars and rumors of war” during the time prior to His return (Matthew 24:6), which is clearly applicable to what we are witnessing today with Russia, China, Iran, etc.
However, more specifically to Russia, the Bible directly speaks about its aggression, detailing a future war in which the country will lead a doomed invasion into Israel from the north, alongside Turkey, Iran, and others (Ezekiel 38-39).
“With the losses in Ukraine, one might expect that Russia would refrain from any military action in the future,” Christian author Jonathan Brentner explained. “The Bible, however, tells us that God will put a ‘hook’ in the jaw of Gog [Russia’s leader], whom many believe may very well be Putin, or perhaps his successor (Ezekiel 38:3-4).”
Many have speculated that the “hook in the jaw,” which will spark this Biblical invasion, could be related to Israel’s vast natural resources.
“Israel is on alert because we know Vladimir Putin will not stop with Ukraine. Much more territory is in his sights, and he longs for the spoil (wealth) stored up in Israel (Ezekiel 38-39),” Jan Markell, the Founder and President of Olive Tree Ministries, recently wrote. “Vladimir Putin is ‘Gog-esque.’ His ultimate goal could be ‘the mountains of Israel’ (Ezekiel 38:8). Thanks to this blundering invasion, more than ever, he needs the natural resources and other ‘wealth’ of Israel.”
“It is much more than ‘wars and rumors of wars’ predicted in the Bible for the end-of-days. It is further destabilizing a world that is already groaning, fearful and weary,” she added. “Signs are a harbinger of His return. We are seeing such events happen closer together, in real time, just as the Bible predicted.”
