The “period of Russian fossil fuel in Europe” is coming to an end, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Her remarks come after Gazprom, the Russian energy behemoth, announced that gas deliveries to Poland and Bulgaria had been halted.
Ms von der Leyen, speaking in Brussels, said the action demonstrated Russia’s “unreliability” as an energy provider.
Moscow’s move, according to political leaders in Warsaw and Sofia, amounted to “blackmail.”
Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, stressed that Moscow remained a reliable energy partner and stated that the measure was forced upon Russia as a result of “unfriendly steps” done against it by Western countries.
However, Marcin Przydacz, Poland’s deputy foreign minister, told the BBC that Russia was attempting to “create splits” among Western partners.
Gazprom’s cutoff comes after Poland and Bulgaria refused to pay in roubles for gas.
Russian President Vladimir Putin decided last month that all energy payments must be made in rubles.
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