Putin orders Europe to replenish gas supplies

Correspondent Iris de Graaf:

“Possibly Putin wants to prove with his statement about turning on the gas tap to Europe that he is fulfilling his agreements. He means by this: “You see, you are wrong, I will stick to my deal”.

It is striking that he now comes up with it, while earlier today Gazprom asked Moldova to review trade agreements with the European Union in exchange for cheaper gas. With this, Russia appears to be using the gas as a means of pressure to drive Moldova away from the EU and bring it under its own sphere of influence. The Kremlin denies this and says the negotiations were purely commercial.”

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