Russia stops gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria

Russia has cut off natural gas materials to Poland and Bulgaria, dramatically escalating its response to Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine.

Russian nation strength massive Gazprom said in an assertion Wednesday that it had absolutely halted resources to Polish gasoline agency PGNiG and Bulgaria’s Bulgargaz after they refused to satisfy a call for by means of Moscow to pay in rubles, in place of euros or greenbacks.
The European Commission defined the decision to halt supplies as attempted “blackmail” and stated it was coordinating a reaction among EU member states.

“Europeans can trust that we stand united and in full solidarity with the member states impacted in the face of this new challenge. Europeans can count on our full support,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement.

Bulgaria’s energy ministry stated in an announcement that paying in rubles became unacceptable and that Bulgargaz had “fully fulfilled its duties and has made all bills required under this agreement in a well-timed way, diligently and according to with its provisions.”

The information sent US herbal fuel futures up about three% Tuesday. European gasoline fees jumped extra than 20% on Wednesday morning earlier than losing returned.
Russia added an ultimatum final month to “unfriendly” countries that they must pay for their energy in rubles beginning April 1 or hazard being reduced from important substances. But the go with the flow of fuel had persevered until Wednesday.
The Kremlin said bills for gas being introduced at the time of its assertion might be due toward the cease of April or the start of May, which is why Russia did not without delay close off the glide of fuel to Europe.

President Vladimir Putin’s high-stakes danger despatched shockwaves through Europe, which can not hold its financial system jogging for a lengthy without Russian strength. Moscow sent a clear signal that it could at some unspecified time in the future lessen herbal gas flows.

“The announcement by Gazprom that it is unilaterally stopping delivery of gas to customers in Europe is yet another attempt by Russia to use gas as an instrument of blackmail,” von der Leyen said. “This is unjustified and unacceptable.”

EU member states met Wednesday to coordinate their reaction. Von der Leyen stated after the assembly that Poland and Bulgaria had been now receiving gasoline from their EU buddies. The European Union could continue its work to at ease enough components and storage within the medium time period, including liquified herbal gasoline from the USA and other partners, she brought.

“Today, the Kremlin failed once again in this attempt to sow division between Europeans. The era of Russian fossil fuels in Europe will come to an end,” she said.