Macron: Russia is using gas a "weapon of war" and we must be prepared to abandon it

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that Russia is using gas as a "weapon of war" and that we must be prepared to "give it up" and that Europe is preparing for a complete interruption of Russian gas supplies.

The French president stressed during a television interview that "Russia uses energy as well as food as a weapon of war. ... We must prepare today for a scenario in which we have to completely dispense with Russian gas."

He added to the channel "TF-1" that "Russia has started to cut off gas supplies" by closing the pipeline "Nord Stream-1", in reference to Russia's cutting off supplies for the purpose of maintenance, she said.

And he considered it "a very clear message: you will use gas as a weapon of war."

France is estimated to receive less than 20 percent of its total gas imports from Russia.

Macron warned that cutting off Russian energy supplies means that "the summer and the beginning of autumn are likely to be very difficult."

Even in the event of a prolonged conflict in Ukraine, France will continue to help Kyiv defend itself against Moscow, while maintaining sanctions against Russia.

"We want to stop this war without going to war," he said.

Macron explained that France has boosted gas supplies from Norway, Qatar, Algeria and the United States, as well as boosting gas reserves, which will "close to 100 percent by the fall."

Noting that France's use of energy "has diminished a little" compared to the previous year, Macron called on the authorities, consumers and the sector to conserve energy and eliminate its sources of waste.

He stressed "the necessity of adopting the logic of collective discipline."

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