European Union bracing for Russian gas cut-off: Von der Leyen
European Union bracing for Russian gas cut-off: Von der Leyen
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BRUSSELS: The European Union (EU) is prepared to face a halt in Russian gas deliveries to its member countries, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Gazprom, Russia's gas supplier, announced earlier on Wednesday that it was suspending all gas deliveries to Poland and Bulgaria due to the two EU member countries' "failure to pay in rubles."

In a statement issued in response to Gazprom's announcement, von der Leyen described the move as "another attempt by Russia to use gas as a tool of blackmail" in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

According to reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded on March 23 that Russia's current gas contracts with "unfriendly countries" be paid in rubles.

"We have been working to ensure alternative deliveries and the best possible storage levels across the EU," said the European Commission President, and the gas coordination group is meeting to map out a coordinated EU response. The EU, which is heavily reliant on Russian gas and oil, has been working to find alternative energy sources through its 'REPowerEU' plan, which was launched on March 8. On March 25, the EU agreed with the US to purchase at least 15 billion cubic metres of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for 2022, and 50 billion cubic metres of LNG per year until at least 2030.

The bloc is also hastening its green transition away from fossil fuels and toward greater energy efficiency.

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