Media report: Europe awaits 18 difficult months

A media report stated that the next year and a half will be difficult for Europe, which does not have sufficient alternatives to Russian gas in the event of a cut in supplies.

According to a report by the American newspaper "Washington Post", Europe does not have sufficient alternatives in the near future to avoid serious economic problems in the coming winter in the event that Russia cuts off gas supplies.

The post added: “The next 18 months will be difficult for Europe,” noting that “the effects of high prices are spreading all over the world,” as governments try to “run their factories and heat their homes to keep them running.”

"A very dangerous game is being played," said Edward Chao, an energy security expert at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"I don't know how this should end," Zhou was quoted as saying. "There is a feeling that it will end very badly for both Western Europe and Russia."

Recall that on March 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the transfer of payments for natural gas supplies to EU countries and other countries that have introduced restrictive measures against Russia into the ruble in order to stop using dollars and euros in accounts.

The president signed the decree, and said that if "unfriendly" countries did not pay in rubles from April 1, Russia would consider this a default in gas contracts.

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