Conditional natural gas offer from Qatar to EU

According to sources speaking to Reuters, Qatar, the world's largest natural gas producer, said that if Russia invaded Ukraine, it would be able to supply gas to the EU together with several producing countries, but in case this happens, a ban on the sale of natural gas outside of the union should be banned. In addition to this condition, Qatar demanded that the monopoly investigation initiated in 2018 regarding a long-term contract, which hinders the free circulation of natural gas in the EU, be resolved. This demand stands out as a proposal that fundamentally demolishes the EU's principle of free movement for the gas market. While the EU views the free movement of natural gas as vital to energy security, some producing countries and consumers argue that reforms over the past 20 years have often resulted in higher energy prices and devastating consequences.

It is not clear how gas will be supplied to Germany

Worried that Russia would invade Ukraine, the US asked Qatar and some major gas-producing countries to work on the possibility of providing more gas for the European Union, in order to provide gas to EU countries that depend on Russia for natural gas. Some sources state that the negotiations have been going on for about 3 weeks and that the monopoly investigation is the biggest obstacle to the agreement. It is thought that it is not possible for Qatar to fill the gap arising from Russia, but it can provide more gas than expected thanks to some flexibility in its long-term agreements with Asian countries. In addition, how to find a solution for Germany, which does not have a liquefied gas terminal, remains a mystery. Russia, which has amassed 120,000 soldiers on Ukraine's borders, claims that it has no plans to invade the country and accuses the United States of increasing tensions. Russia currently supplies a third of Europe's gas, and any shortage of supply risks exacerbating the energy crisis already posed by global famine.