The Kremlin says Western sanctions are the only thing stopping gas flows

The only thing stopping gas flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline is Western sanctions, a Kremlin spokesperson said on Tuesday, a day before Russia’s Gazprom will begin a three- day shutdown of the pipeline for maintenance.

The pipeline is a key avenue for Russian gas flows into Europe, but deliveries have been slashed to 20 percent of its capacity, with Gazprom claiming that sanctions prevented repairs to turbines. However, European officials have accused Moscow of weaponizing energy supplies to retaliate against the sanctions.

Gazprom also stopped its gas flows during its annual, scheduled maintenance period earlier this summer. But this time, the upcoming three- day shutdown was previously unscheduled, with Gazprom citing a pumping unit, according to a report from Reuters.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said sanctions have prevented normal maintenance and repair work as well as the return of key components to their places of operation.

“There are guarantees that, apart from technological problems caused by sanctions, nothing hinders the supplies,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

Europe has been scrambling for alternative supplies in event of a total gas shutoff from Russia this winter.

The International Energy Agency estimated that the EU would need at least 90 percent of its natural gas storage full to be safe this winter, although even then, the continent still faces increased risks of supply disruptions.

That’s hurt Europe in the form of soaring energy prices, as competition is heavy for alternatives to Russian fuel. Though Europe’s front- month gas contract edged lower to € 259 per megawatt- hour on Tuesday, it’s more than five times more expensive than what Europe paid a year ago, Reuters reported.