Russian natural gas heading westbound through the Yamal-Europe pipeline stopped on March 4, as Gazprom’s bids for additional transit capacity via Ukraine stand at high levels, according to data from the Gascade pipeline operators. The Yamal pipeline between Poland and Germany accounts for about 15 percent of Russian gas to Europe and Turkey. The 2,000-km (1,242-mile) pipeline from Torzhok, Russia, to Frankfurt an der Oder in Germany, can carry around 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year or 100 million cubic meters (MCM) per day. Since the invasion of Ukraine, Gazprom has been intermittingly sending gas westward via the link in recent days amid high demand in Europe. The conflict in Ukraine is increasing the risks of this route with each passing day. Unstable Russian gas supplies and a high demand for energy amid an economic recovery from the pandemic have led to a spike in gas prices on …