EU Takes a 'Decisive' Action Against Putin's 'Full Gas Disruption' Threat, Agrees To Ration Natural Gas This Winter

European Union member states came up with a deal to ration gas this winter to safeguard against further supply restrictions by Russia, which continues its attack on Ukraine.

The new European legislation intended to reduce the demand for gas by 15% from August through March was agreed upon by EU energy ministers. It calls for optional national actions to cut gas usage, and if such steps do not save enough money, it sets off mandatory steps for the 27-member bloc.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the move. In a statement, she stated that "the EU has taken a decisive step to face down the threat of a full gas disruption by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin."

On Monday, Russian energy giant Gazprom said it would limit supplies to the EU through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to 20% of capacity, heightening concerns that Putin will use gas trade to challenge the bloc's opposition to the war in Ukraine, as reported by AP News.

EU Fights Back Putin's 'Blackmailing'

Czech Industry Minister Jozef Sikela said: "The winter is coming and we don't know how cold it will be. But what we know for sure is that Putin will continue to play his dirty games in misusing and blackmailing gas supplies."

After days of discussions over the measure, Sikela praised the decision as evidence that European Union member states "will stand tall" against any Russian effort to split the EU by weaponizing energy supplies.

The energy-saving initiative, however, did not have unanimity of support. Hungary voiced objection, having already obtained a waiver from the EU's ban on Russian oil.

In less than a week, the ministerial agreement was finalized. It is based on a recommendation made by the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, last Wednesday. The commission said that coordinated rationing would allow the bloc as a whole to survive the winter should Vladimir Putin order to halt all gas deliveries.

Russia's Gas Deliveries Shut-off Impacts European Growth

According to The Guardian, if a European Union member state has limited connection to the European gas network, they may also request an exemption or a reduced savings target and can send transfer liquified natural gas to neighboring nations. This provision concerns Spain.

Since Russia's incursion of Ukraine in February, which the West condemned with economic penalties, Russian gas deliveries to 12 European Union member countries have been stopped or reduced.

Last week, von der Leyen alleged that Russia is "blackmailing" the EU by "using energy as a weapon. And therefore, in any event, whether it's a partial major cut-off of Russian gas or total cut-off of Russian gas, Europe needs to be ready."

The Independent reported that Russia might exert influence by weaponizing energy exports and cutting off the 27-nation bloc, per the International Monetary Fund (IMF). As part of scheduled "routine" maintenance, Russia cut off the majority of its natural gas supply to Europe via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline a few weeks ago.

The IMF warned that the partial shut-off of gas deliveries by Russia "is already affecting European growth, and a full shutdown could be substantially more severe."