European leaders have condemned Russia’s move to cut off gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria as “blackmail” after the two NATO members had supplies shut off for refusing to pay in rubles.
Moscow’s state-owned energy corporation Gazprom confirmed in an April 27 statement it had fully halted gas exports to Polish gas company PGNiG and Bulgaria’s Bulgazrgaz, which prompted a quick response from EU leaders.
The European Commission has accused Russia of using its export of gas to customers in Europe as an instrument of blackmail and said it was already “prepared for this scenario.”
“This latest aggressive move by Russia is another reminder that we need to work with reliable partners and build our energy independence,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement, adding that both NATO members are now receiving gas from their EU neighbors.
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