Cutting gas supply is an instrument of blackmail, says EU

Russia’s decision to stop delivering gas to customers in Europe is “an instrument of blackmail”, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen says.

The move is “unjustified and unacceptable” and shows the unreliability of Russia as a gas supplier, she adds.

She says EU member states have contingency plans in place for this scenario and the European Commission is in close contact with them to ensure alternative deliveries and the best possible storage levels across the bloc.

A meeting of the gas coordination group is taking place now to map out the EU’s coordinated response, von der Leyen adds.

“We will also continue working with international partners to secure alternative flows – and I will continue working with European and world leaders to ensure the security of energy supply in Europe,” she says.

“Europeans can count on our full support.”

Russian energy firm says it has cut off all gas to Bulgaria and Poland

The Russian energy giant Gazprom says it has cut off all gas deliveries to both Bulgaria and Poland after both countries refused to start paying for the supplies in roubles.

Earlier, both Polish and Bulgarian energy providers said they had received official notices from the Russian gas supplier that deliveries were due to be cut.

Gazprom’s announcement comes after some confusion earlier this morning, when data showed gas supplies into Poland through Belarus temporarily reduced to zero before resuming.

Bulgaria’s gas network had also said the country was still receiving Russian gas as of this morning.