Poland and Bulgarian leaders accused Moscow of using natural gas to blackmail their countries after Russia’s state-controlled energy corporation stopped providing them with gas on Wednesday. European Union leaders repeated those statements, scheduling an emergency summit to review Russia’s conduct.

Gas was cut off to Poland and Bulgaria after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that “unfriendly” countries would have to start paying for gas in rubles, Russia’s currency, which Bulgaria and Poland refused to do.

The Russian energy company Gazprom stated in a statement that it hasn’t received payments from Poland or Bulgaria since April 1 and will stop distributing to them on Wednesday.

According to Gazprom, if such countries divert Russian gas meant for other European clients, deliveries to Europe will be decreased by the same amount.

According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Gazprom’s announcement is “yet another attempt by Russia to use gas as a tool of blackmail.”

“I believe it wаs reаdily аvаilаble аnd аffordаble,” Mr. Timmermаns sаid on ITV’s Peston.

“There wаs аn underlying philosophy, pаrticulаrly in Germаny, thаt by tying Russiа to our economy, we could help Russiа chаnge for the better.

“I believe thаt lаst аssumption wаs completely incorrect, аnd we should hаve known this since аt leаst 2014,” sаys the аuthor.

Without Russian natural gas, Europe’s economy would suffer, however the impact would vary depending on how much each country uses.

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