Vladimir Putin has declared that Russia is considering an immediate halt to gas supplies to the European Union, without waiting for the planned EU restrictions. Although this threat concerns countries importing Russian LNG, such as France, Spain, and Italy, experts reassure that thanks to supply diversification, Europe is more resilient to energy blackmail than in previous years. At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reports a lack of signals regarding new peace talks, while on the front there are further attacks on Black Sea Fleet ships and Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Kremlin's Gas Blackmail

Vladimir Putin announced the possibility of immediately halting gas supplies to the EU, striking at Western European markets.

Ukraine's Successes at Sea

The hit on the frigate Admiral Essen and reports of a Russian tanker being sunk off the coast of Libya demonstrate the effectiveness of Ukrainian operations.

Ukraine's Energy Crisis

Slovakia is ending the provision of emergency power, worsening the already difficult situation of Ukraine's energy grid.

No Hope for Peace

President Zelenskyy negatively assesses the chances for a quick resumption of diplomatic talks with Russia.

As the war in Ukraine enters another year, tensions between Moscow and Brussels have reached a new critical point. Vladimir Putin publicly announced that the Russian Federation is considering a preemptive move against EU sanctions through an "immediate" cessation of blue fuel transmission to European markets. Such a decision would aim to deepen the energy crisis in countries like France, Spain, and Italy before the European Union can formally implement the announced embargo. The Kremlin simultaneously suggests that these resources will be redirected to Asian markets, which is part of a broader strategy to restructure Russia's fossil fuel exports. On the military front, the situation remains extremely dynamic and bloody. Ukrainian armed forces have carried out successful attacks on Russian naval units, including the frigate "Admiral Essen" and three other ships in a port on the Black Sea. There have also been reports of a Russian tanker being sunk off the coast of Libya. In turn, the Russian side continues terrorist attacks using drones and artillery, targeting civilians in the Odesa and Kherson regions, where more people, including children, have been killed. Ukraine is also grappling with tangible problems in its transmission infrastructure after the Slovak operator announced the end of emergency power supplies. Since the outbreak of full-scale war in 2022, Russia has repeatedly used energy resources as a tool of political pressure, leading to historic gas price spikes on European exchanges. In the diplomatic sphere, a stalemate persists. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that he is currently not receiving any constructive signals indicating Russia's readiness to engage in genuine peace talks. Pressure is also mounting in Europe on Hungary, which is seeking guaranteed low energy prices from Putin while blocking EU financial aid for Kyiv. Meanwhile, experts have published new estimates regarding the costs of the aggression, which are burdening the Russian budget to an unprecedented degree, forcing the Moscow city government to make radical job cuts in the municipal administration. „Bisher keine Signale für neue Ukraine-Gespräche” (So far no signals for new Ukraine talks) — Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Perspektywy mediów: Liberal media emphasize the brutality of Russian attacks on civilians and the desperation of Putin evident in the energy blackmail. Conservative media focus on the costs of the war for the European economy and the risk of escalation from cutting off resources.

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