DNIPRO, Ukraine—Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky urged European countries to respond to an “energy attack” from Russia, after it indefinitely suspended natural-gas flows to the continent through a vital pipeline
The move was the latest escalation in an economic war that is set to come to a head this winter as cold temperatures increase demand for energy. On the battlefield, Russian and Ukrainian forces are also digging in for winter, seeking to gain territory and secure positions before bad weather makes maneuvering harder and complicates operations for soldiers.
Kremlin-controlled energy company Gazprom PJSC said late Friday it would suspend supplies of natural gas to Germany via the Nord Stream pipeline until further notice, ramping up pressure on European governments racing to avoid energy shortages.
This winter, Russia is preparing for a decisive energy attack on all Europeans,” Mr. Zelensky said in his nightly address, urging European governments to respond with more sanctions and to deprive Moscow of revenues from oil and gas.
“It is trying to attack with poverty and political chaos where it cannot yet attack with missiles.”
Moscow has reduced gas supplies to Europe since June, blaming Western sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for preventing maintenance of the Nord Stream pipeline.
European governments say Moscow is deliberately stoking energy prices to raise the political costs of their military involvement with Kyiv and weaken voters’ support for Ukraine. European governments and industry have been able to sock away more natural gas than some analysts had expected over the summer—protecting the continent from the threat of imminent large-scale shortages—but worries for the winter remain high.
In a sign of the potential risks, an estimated 70,000 people took to the streets of Prague on Saturday in protest against the Czech government, calling on the ruling coalition to do more to curb energy prices and voicing opposition to the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Organized by several far-right and fringe political groups, the demonstration called for the Central European nation to be militarily neutral and ensure direct contracts with gas suppliers, including Russia.
Gazprom said on Friday it had found a technical fault during maintenance of the Nord Stream pipeline, which connects Russia with Germany under the Baltic Sea. The pipeline, which had been due to resume operation on Saturday after three days of maintenance, will remain closed until the issue is fixed, the company said, without giving any timeline. Before the maintenance, the pipeline was operating at 20% of its capacity.
The announcement came hours after the Group of Seven wealthy nations agreed to an oil-price cap for Russian crude. That would force buyers seeking to insure their shipment via insurers located in a G-7 or EU country to observe the price limit on their purchases.