Cutting off natural gas to Poland and Bulgaria cost Russian President Vladimir Putin very little - but it is adding stress on European countries wrestling over how to reduce energy imports that are feeding the Kremlin's war chest and how to keep a united front on the war in Ukraine.
European Union officials say yielding to Putin's demand to pay for gas in rubles would violate Western sanctions imposed over the invasion. Poland and Bulgaria were cut off after refusing the demand and say they will manage because they were already working to end their dependence on Russian energy supplies.
