Russian gas provider Gazprom on Saturday announced it was stopping deliveries to Latvia for an alleged breach of contract terms.
"Today Gazprom stopped gas supplies to Latvia within the framework of the July order due to the violation of ... conditions," the company said in a Telegram post, without providing further details.
Gazprom had already halted or reduced deliveries to 12 EU countries in retaliation for Western sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. The Russian gas giant stopped all deliveries to Poland, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Finland and Denmark after energy companies in those countries refused to bow to Kremlin demands to pay for deliveries in rubles.
And fears are growing in Europe that Russian President Vladimir Putin will shut off the gas entirely. EU energy ministers this week reached agreement on mandatory, bloc-wide gas rationing in case of winter supply shortages.
"We are countering Putin’s attempt to unsettle us with European solidarity and unity — that is of enormous importance," German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said of the gas-rationing accord. He called the agreement "a strong signal to Putin’s Russia: Europe will not be divided or blackmailed."
Latvian energy firm Latvijas Gaze on Friday announced it was importing gas from Russia from an alternative supplier, other than Gazprom, and paying for it in euros, instead of rubles, as required by Moscow.
More from ... Giorgio Leali
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