The German government said Wednesday it was triggering the early warning level for gas supplies amid concerns that Russia could cut off supplies unless it is paid in rubles.
Western nations have rejected the Russian demand for ruble payments, arguing it would undermine the sanctions imposed against Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
There have been several comments from the Russian side that if this (payments in rubles) doesn’t happen, then the supplies will be stopped, Economy Minister Robert Habeck said.
In order to be prepared for this situation I have today triggered the early warning level. Habeck, who is also Germany’s energy minister and vice chancellor, told reporters that this was the first of three warning levels and entailed the establishment of a crisis team in his ministry that will step up monitoring of the gas supply situation.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said Russia’s stated focus on the separatist regions in eastern Ukraine is likely a tacit admission that it is struggling to sustain more than one significant axis of advance.
In a daily war assessment, the Ministry said Wednesday that Russian units suffering heavy losses have been forced to return to Belarus and Russia to reorganise and supply. It said such activity is placing further pressure on Russia’s already strained logistics and demonstrates the difficulties Russia is having reorganizing its units in forward areas within Ukraine.
It noted, however, that the shift is unlikely to mean relief for civilians in cities that have been subjected to relentless Russian bombardments. It expects Moscow will continue to compensate for reduced ground maneuvers through mass artillery and missile strikes. The measure was a precautionary one and Germany’s gas storages are currently filled to about 25 per cent capacity, he said. The whold world is closely watching Russia.