UK's Liz Truss asserts Putin 'holding rest of the world to ransom over gas prices'

Amidst European Union's plan to minimise dependency on Russian energy due to brutal invasion of Ukraine, Foreign Secretary of United Kingdom, Liz Truss stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding rest of globe host over gas prices, and enabling him to win which would result in "untold misery" throughout Europe. She made se statements in response to a question about wher she thought "Vladimir Putin is effectively holding rest of world to ransom" by "cutting off supplies to Germany," Guardian reported. 

Furrmore, British foreign secretary ted, “That is exactly what he is trying to do and it’s vitally important that we stay strong in face of his appalling aggression," adding, “If we allow Vladimir Putin to succeed, it will cause untold misery across Europe.” 

“We kw that he would t just stop at Ukraine east of Europe is under threat and democracy is under threat,” Truss said.

In addition to this, UK's Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng anunced on March 8 that government will gradually stop importing Russian oil by end of year in reaction to Russian President Putin's aggressive assaults against Ukraine, despite fact that UK has t yet banned Russian oil. 

Germany accused Russia of engaging in a 'power play' over region's energy supplies

As Russian energy giant Gazprom has decreased flow of gas to Europe, Germany has charged Russia with engaging in a "power play" over region's energy supplies. On July 25, Gazprom said that it will reduce its delivery of gas through rd Stream 1 pipeline to around 20% of its full capacity. According to Christiane Hoffman, a spokesperson for German government, y are seeing a "power play" and emphasised that "we won't allow ourselves to be impressed by it," according to Guardian report. 

turbine has been serviced, according to Christiane Hoffman, who also ted that supply agreements are t presently being followed.  

According to Guardian, only about 17 million kilowatt hours of gas had been received between 8 and 9 am, as compared to over 27 million kilowatt hours of gas that came between 6 and 7 am, network data from gas transfer station in Lubmin claimed. 

Meanwhile, Kremlin refuted allegations that it is waging an "energy war" in Europe on Tuesday, July 26, and asserted that Gazprom, a state-owned firm, has been supplying "as much gas as possible" to EU in response to demand. According to media reports, Russian President Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, stated on Tuesday that it would be "wrong" to consider sanctions as a potential explanation for lower flow of Russian gas supplies to Europe. 

Im: AP