Moscow seeks to counter Odessa-Brody pipeline

The energy wars across the former Soviet region continue to escalate, with Russia reacting to the extension of the Odessa (Ukraine)–Brody (Belarus) oil pipeline to Poland.

The state-owned pipeline corporation, Transneft, is currently conducting negotiations with German and Czech companies in an effort to transport oil to Western Europe, bypassing Ukraine.

The Russian government intends to remain the major provider of energy to Europe, so competition is aggressively responded to by Moscow.