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Added on the 31/08/2023 16:23:09 - Copyright : Euronews EN
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warns that the eurozone could fall into recession next year in the case of a total shutdown of Russian gas supplies. The "downside scenario" for 2023 foresees negative growth in the case of a "total shutdown of all Russian gas supply" and energy rationing in the eurozone, she said, after the ECB unleashed a record rate hike. SOUNDBITE
The European Commission urges EU countries to reduce their demand for natural gas by 15 percent over the coming winter months to overcome Russia's energy supply "blackmail". SOUNDBITE
In Luxembourg, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner says it is not yet possible for the EU to cut Russian gas imports as a sanction against Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. SOUNDBITE
German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann qualifies Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy supplies as "war crimes," after a meeting between G7 justice ministers concerning war crimes in Ukraine. "People are left in their homes, in a winter that could possibly reach -30 degrees; then this is a terrible war crime. Winter is used as a weapon," he states. SOUNDBITE
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Economics and Climate Minister Robert Habeck and Finance Minister Christian Lindner receive a report on natural gas and heating from the commission that drafted it. IMAGES
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen warns that "Russia is blackmailing" EU member states and "using energy as a weapon." Russian President Vladimir Putin has played hot and cold in recent days with his threats to cut off gas deliveries to the bloc of 27 members, but Brussels is asking EU countries to prepare for the worst. SOUNDBITE