Vladimir Putin’s threats to cut off energy supplies to Europe have been dismissed as hollow by Western officials, because of the damage the move would do to a Russian economy already reeling from sanctions.
Putin has warned he will turn the taps off unless “unfriendly” countries start paying for oil and gas in roubles from Friday, in a move intended to shore up the value of the Russian currency, which has plummeted since Moscow’s 24 February invasion of Ukraine.
