Many ways to skin a catThis adage the Germans seem to have forgotten when dealing with the Russians on gas. A while ago when the Russians were peddling with the idea that gas supplies may turn off as a counter measure to EU sanctions against them, the Germans threatened them with legal action for breach of contract.The Russians tried first to delay deliveries due a technical problem caused by a gas turbine that had been sent to Canada for repair. This problem prompted Canada to raise objections of returning the turbine to Russia due to sanctions being in effect. After the German insistence that the turbine be delivered to Russia to get the gas flowing again to Germany, Canada folded and, despite the sanctions, made an exemption and delivered the turbine to the Russians. But then again the Russians wanted the gas to Europe cut off. And then the gas line carrying gas to the EU we heard was blown off in the Northen stream. Who did it? Nobody knows. Was the Russians, the Ukrainians, the Norwegians? Who knows. The end result however is the gas to Europe is cut off and now the Russians are not legally liable and they will appeal to Force Majeure and get away with it. And the cat now can again be skinned in another way.