E.U. says Russia ‘likely’ to cut off gas, proposes plan to cut consumption

 E.U. says Russia ‘likely’ to cut off gas, proposes plan to cut consumption

By Quentin Ariès and Ellen Francis 

July 20, 2022 at 7:08 a.m. EDT

“We have to prepare for a potential full disruption of Russian gas. And this is a likely scenario," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a news conference in Brussels on July 20. (Stephanie Lecocq/ EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

BRUSSELS — The European Union proposed a plan for countries to reduce demand for natural gas — as officials warned that Russia was “likely” to cutoff the flow to Europe.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined a proposal for members to cut gas consumption by 15 percent for a few months, starting in August.

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“Russia is blackmailing us. Russia is using energy as a weapon. And therefore, in any event, whether it is partial, major cut off of Russian, or total cut off of Russian gas, Europe needs to be ready,” Von der Leyen told a news conference.

“We have to be proactive,” she added. “We have to prepare for a potential full disruption of Russian gas. And this is a likely scenario. That’s what we’ve seen in the past.”

Amid summer heat wave, Germany worries over having enough gas for winter

Gas supplies from Russia to Europe have slowed dramatically in recent weeks as European officials accuse the Kremlin of retaliating in response to Western sanctions over Moscow’s war in Ukraine. In a summer of rising temperatures and energy prices, E.U. countries are hoping to build up supplies ahead of the winter.

Wednesday’s proposal to curb consumption from Aug. 1 to March 1 asks member states to switch from gas to alternative fuels, incentivizes industries to reduce consumption and outlines ways for consumers to save on heating and cooling.

War in Ukraine: What you need to know

The latest: President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the biggest shake-up in the Ukrainian government since the start of the war: The head of Ukraine’s security services, Ivan Bakanov, and Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova were suspended. Kyiv also said that hundreds of criminal investigations for suspected “treason and collaboration activities” were underway.

The fight: Russia’s recent operational pause, which analysts identified in recent weeks as an effort to regroup troops before doubling down on Ukraine’s south and east, appears to be ending. Russia appears set to resume ground offensives, with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu telling troops on Saturday to intensify attacks “in all operational sectors” of Ukraine.

The weapons: Ukraine is making use of weapons such as Javelin antitank missiles and Switchblade “kamikaze” drones, provided by the United States and other allies. Russia has used an array of weapons against Ukraine, some of which have drawn the attention and concern of analysts.

Photos: Post photographers have been on the ground from the very beginning of the war — here’s some of their most powerful work.

How you can help: Here are ways those in the U.S. can help support the Ukrainian people as well as what people around the world have been donating.

Read our full coverage of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for updates and exclusive video.

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