As a result of the tensions surrounding Ukraine, the Russian energy giant Gazprom has reportedly stopped supplying gas to Latvia, the newest member of the EU to undergo such a move.
Latvia was allegedly in violation of the terms of the acquisition, but no specifics were provided by Gazprom.
Despite only making up 26% of Latvia’s energy needs, it imports natural gas from its neighbour, Russia.
In the meantime, Ukraine claims to have attacked arms caches in the Kherson region and killed 170 Russian soldiers in the last 24 hours.
Kherson is a significant strategic city in the south, and Ukraine has intensified its efforts to drive the Russians out. The most recent Ukrainian assertions were not corroborated by the BBC.
Following the recent damage caused by Ukrainian rockets to important bridges across the Dnipro River, the UK Ministry of Defence claims that Russian forces have likely built two pontoon bridges and a ferry system to allow them to resupply Kherson.
In retaliation for extensive Western penalties placed over its invasion of Ukraine, EU member states accuse Russia of turning its gas supplies into weapons.
Since the Baltic region has long been viewed as a possible flashpoint with Russia, NATO has increased its military presence there as well as in Latvia’s neighbours Estonia and Lithuania.
The Baltic states have a sizable Russian ethnic minority. These former Soviet Union member states want to stop importing Russian gas in 2019.
On Wednesday, Gazprom drastically reduced gas deliveries to Europe through the Nord Stream pipeline to around 20% of its capacity.
Russia wants EU members to pay for Gazprom gas in roubles rather than euros, but the EU rejects this. There are no contractual requirements for rouble payments, according to the EU.
The Latvian gas company Latvijas Gaze announced on Thursday that it was purchasing Russian gas but paying in euros.
Due to non-payment in roubles, Gazprom has halted gas exports to Bulgaria, Finland, Poland, Denmark, and the Netherlands since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February and the tightening of Western sanctions. Additionally, Russia has stopped supplying gas to Shell Energy Europe in Germany.
The EU is currently working to increase gas imports from other countries, especially LNG from Qatar and Norway.
