Russian energy giant Gazprom [13] cut off the flow of natural gas to Germany and other European markets via the Nord Stream pipeline on Aug. 31, calling it a three-day shut-down for maintenance purposes. But Western governments charge that Russia is "weaponizing" [15]gas supplies amid the Ukraine war. (EuroNews [20]) Days earlier, Germany's government broached allowing the blocked Nord Stream 2 [14] pipeline to begin pumping Russian gas. Wolfgang Kubicki, vice president of the Bundestag, said [16] the move is necessary so "people do not have to freeze in winter and that our industry does not suffer serious damage." His comment prompted a harsh response from Kyiv, where Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said [17] that "addiction to Russian gas kills." (Politico [21])
