Russian gas supplier Gazprom said on Saturday it was halting deliveries to Latvia over an alleged breach of contract terms.
“Today Gazprom interrupted gas supply to Latvia under the July order due to breach 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 against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. The Russian gas giant halted all deliveries to Poland, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Finland and Denmark after energy companies in those countries refused to comply with Kremlin demands to pay for deliveries in roubles.
And fears are growing in Europe that Russian President Vladimir Putin will completely cut off the gas. EU energy ministers reached an agreement this week on mandatory bloc-wide gas rationing in the event of winter supply shortages.
“We are countering Putin’s attempt to disrupt us with European solidarity and unity – this is of enormous importance,” German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said of the gas rationing deal. He called the deal “a strong signal to Putin’s Russia: Europe will not be divided or blackmailed.”
Latvian energy company Latvijas Gaze said on Friday it was importing gas from Russia from an alternative supplier, other than Gazprom, and paying for it in euros, instead of rubles, as Moscow demands.
politico Gt