Germany warns 'Russia could use energy as weapon' as war continues to ravage Europe

German vice-chancellor Robert Habeck has said that Russian Federation could use “energy as a weapon” as war in Ukraine continues to rav Europe. Addressing media reporters on Thursday, he highlighted that although his country has reduced its dependency on Russian gas and oil, it could still take two years to completely phase out of fuel. Habeck, who also serves as Energy Minister of Germany said that it could cause trouble for president in winters. 

On Thursday, Moscow anunced sanctions against 31 foreign energy companies in retaliation to Western sanctions. Pertaining to same, Habeck said that it was already leveraging its hydrocarbons to blackmail Europe. Around 40 per cent of Europe’s fuels come from Russia. 

" gas stor facilities must be full by winter or else we will be in a situation where we can easily be blackmailed," Habeck, who also serves as country's ecomy and climate minister, said at a Thursday press conference. "It has to be said that situation is coming to a head, in such a way that use of energy as a weapon is w being realized in several areas," he added.

'Instrument of blackmail'

His comments echo what  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said last month after Moscow turned tap off for two European nations. She had labelled Russia's decision to cut off gas exports to Poland and Bulgaria an "instrument of blackmail." Late in April,  Russian Federation halted supply of natural gas to two countries after y refused to make payments in country’s currency - Ruble.

Late in March, Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered Gazprom’s foreign contractors to only accept payments from “Hostile countries” in Rubles. However, a majority of European countries including Poland, Germany and Bulgaria refused to do so. Interestingly, Moscow had released a tice regarding same, which was dismissed by West as “Gas blackmail of Europe.” Addressing reporters Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said “Russia is trying to shatter unity of our allies. Russia is also proving that energy resources are a weapon. That is why EU needs to be united and impose an embargo on energy resources, depriving Russians of ir energy weapons.”

(Im: AP)