Russia opened a new front in its war on Ukraine Wednesday over energy exports — an offensive directed at two other frontline states in eastern Europe that have been backing Kiev’s efforts to defend itself.
While anticipated, the decision by Gazprom to suspend natural gas shipments to Poland and Bulgaria tore away the last vestiges of doubt among European leaders about Moscow’s willingness to separate its business interests from its territorial (some would say imperial) ambitions.
Poland and Bulgaria, and the president of the European Commission, vowed not to give in to “blackmail” and to pick up the pace of their efforts to obtain energy independence from Moscow.
