Russia Calls The United States Behind The Crisis Of European Gas Supply

JAKARTA - Russia's foreign ministry said on Tuesday the United States had sparked a gas supply crisis by pushing continental leaders towards a'suicide' move, to cut economic and energy cooperation with Moscow.

Europe is facing the worst gas supply crisis ever, with energy prices soaring and German importers even discussing a possible allotment in the European Union's largest economy, after Russia reduced gas flows to the west.

When asked what needs to be done for Nord Stream 1 to start pumping again, Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova told Reuters: "Listen, you ask me a question that even children know the answer: those who started this should solve this," as quoted September 6.

He said the United States had long sought to cut off energy ties between Russia and major European powers like Germany, although Moscow has been a reliable energy supplier since the Soviet Union's time.

" Washington's dominance won," Zakharova told Reuters on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.

"Political power is brought to power in the European Union which plays the role of'form of provocateurs'."

"It's really suicide but it seems they have to go through with this," he said.

The United States and the European Union have accused Russia of energy extortion after Moscow reduced gas supply to European customers.

Meanwhile, Russia says there are technical problems with a compressor station that cannot be fixed due to sanctions received.

The Kremlin said the West sparked an energy crisis by imposing the most severe sanctions in modern history, a move President Vladimir Putin said was similar to the declaration of economic war.