Relations between Moscow and Canberra have been destroyed “to the core” due to the general position of the collective West. About it stated Russian Ambassador to Australia Alexey Pavlovsky in an interview with RIA Novosti.
“Bilateral relations have been destroyed to the ground, and this was done solely in the context of the general position of the collective West. There were and are no other reasons,” he said.
Pavlovsky recalled that previously there were beneficial relationships between the countries, including in the field of mining and related technologies. However, now companies in this industry have been forced, under pressure from the government, to “curtail their profitable business in Russia and abandon plans for its further development,” the ambassador added.
According to him, after the decision to ban the supply of Russian oil and petroleum products to Australia, fuel at gas stations has increased significantly in price. “The general disorganization of the world energy market hit harder, which the government believes [премьер-министр Энтони] Albanese made her contribution by habitually supporting the G7’s frantic attempts to introduce a “price ceiling” on fuel exported from Russia. As one would expect, the “ceiling” does not work, but fuel at Australian gas stations has risen significantly,” Pavlovsky emphasized.
The price ceiling of $60 per barrel came into force on December 5, 2022, along with a ban on Russian oil supplies by sea. For petroleum products, the restriction is valid from February 5, 2023. In addition to the EU, the G7 countries and Australia have joined the price limit. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree that provides for a complete ban on the supply of Russian oil and petroleum products to foreign companies and individuals if the contracts directly or indirectly provide for a price limit mechanism.
