Russia Allegedly Using Energy As Weapon Against Europe – Zelensky

• Russia allegedly use energy as weapon against Europe, Ukraine President  Zelensky calls out Russian government

• The Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which pumps gas from Russia to Germany, has been running well below capacity for weeks

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has called out the Russian government for wagging gas-war on European nations, describing the act as “gas blackmail”.

Mr Zelensky made this statement after the Russian energy firm Gazprom made it’s intention to once again reduce gas flows into Germany to allow work on a turbine on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.

This online media platform understood that the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which pumps gas from Russia to Germany, has been running well below capacity for weeks.

Earlier this month, Russia’s biggest European pipeline was completely shut down for a 10-day maintenance break, sparking fears in Europe that shipments would not resume at all.

Shipments did restart five days ago  albeit still at a reduced capacity. But on Monday, Gazprom announced it would be cutting its gas supply further once again.

This time, it said it needed to cut gas supply to around half of current levels in order to carry out maintenance work. The German government, however, said there was no technical reason for it to limit the supply.

This has not gone down well with Mr. Zelensky hence he tagged the attempt made by the Russian gas company “The gas balckmail of Europe” stating that this action is geared towards making life unbearable for Europeans.

He had urge Europe to increase Russia sanctions amid this gas war.

“That is why you have to hit back. Do not think about how to bring back the turbine, but strengthen the sanctions,” he said.

He further stressed his point by stating that this decision is deliberate to make it difficult for Europe to prepare for winter, without any care for the poverty people may suffer in the colder months as a result.

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The latest reduction in flows puts pressure on EU countries to reduce their dependence on Russian gas even further, and will likely make it more difficult for them to replenish their gas supplies ahead of winter.

European energy ministers are meeting in Brussels on Tuesday where they hope to sign off on a joint response to the crisis.

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