Gazprom to reduce gas flows to Europe via Nord Stream 1

Gazprom has announced that it will reduce gas flows to Europe via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to 20% of capacity from July 27.

The move comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West over the war in Ukraine.

The reduction in gas flows will exacerbate the energy crisis in Europe, which is already facing soaring energy prices.

The European Union has accused Russia of using gas supplies as a political weapon, while Russia has blamed the EU's sanctions for the disruptions.

The Nord Stream 1 pipeline is a major artery for Russian gas supplies to Europe, accounting for about 40% of the total volume. The pipeline runs from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea.

Gazprom's announcement has sent shockwaves through the European energy market, with gas prices surging by more than 10% in response. The move is also likely to increase pressure on the European Union to find alternative sources of gas.

The Kremlin has been accused of using gas supplies as a political weapon in the past. In 2009, Russia cut off gas supplies to Ukraine for two weeks during a dispute over prices.

The EU has been trying to reduce its dependence on Russian gas for several years, but it is still heavily reliant on Russian supplies. The bloc is now looking to increase its imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from other countries, such as the United States and Qatar.