Russia halts gas supplies to EU until sanctions are lifted

Russia has said it will not resume gas supplies to Europe via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in full until the "collective west" lifts sanctions slapped on the country as a result of its invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov blamed EU, UK, and Canadian sanctions for Russia's inability to deliver gas through the key pipeline, which delivers gas to Germany from St Petersburg via the Baltic sea.

"The problems pumping gas came about because of the sanctions western countries introduced against our country and several companies," Peskov was quoted as saying by Interfax. "There are no other reasons that could have caused this pumping problem."

Gazprom, Russia's state-run gas monopoly, said on Friday that it had been forced to halt gas supplies through Nord Stream 1 due to a technical fault, which it blamed on difficulties repairing its German-made turbines in Canada. However, both the German government and the EU disputed the technical justification.

"It is important to recall that there is not just one gas pipeline from Russia to Europe,” said European Commission energy spokesman Tim McPhie.

"If there was a technical problem which was impeding supplies via Nord Stream 1, there would be a possibility, if there was willingness, to deliver gas to Europe through other pipelines. That's something we’re not seeing happening."

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com