Except, if Europe wants to keep the heat on next winter, guess what they can't do? They can't pay for Russian energy in anything but rubles or gold.
Putin locked in gold at a price below global market value, about $1600/ounce. Why is that important? Because to buy Russian energy you're either going to buy rubles for exchange driving demand thus increasing the value of the ruble or your going to pay more gold for a barrel of Russian crude or NG which essentially increases the value Russian energy. And since some people are going to pay for Russian energy with gold there's going to be two additional effects. 1) Russian energy is going to cost Europe more in gold since Russia considers an ounce to be valued less than international markets giving Russia access to cheap gold. 2) It's going to drive up the price of international gold since demand for it will increase.
Europe can't not buy Russian energy in the mid-term until European countries restructure their energy acquisition, 5 - 10 years.
Except, if Europe wants to keep the heat on next winter, guess what they can't do? They can't pay for Russian energy in anything but rubles or gold.
Putin locked in gold at a price below global market value, about $1600/ounce. Why is that important? Because to buy Russian energy you're either going to buy rubles for exchange driving demand thus increasing the value of the ruble or your going to pay more gold for a barrel of Russian crude or NG which essentially increases the value Russian energy. And since some people are going to pay for Russian energy with gold there's going to be two additional effects. 1) Russian energy is going to cost Europe more in gold since Russia considers an ounce to be valued less than international markets giving Russia access to cheap gold. 2) It's going to drive up the price of international gold since demand for it will increase.
Europe can't not buy Russian energy in the mid-term until European countries restructure their energy acquisition, 5 - 10 years.