Macron accuses Russia of using energy as weapon

The conflict in Ukraine has had an impact on rising energy prices, and Russia is using gas supplies to the foreign market as a weapon, French President Emmanuel Macron told TF1 and France2 TV channels.

“Energy prices rose before the war, Interfax quotes him as saying.

"Let's be collectively honest, because there has been a very strong economic recovery around the world. And then they grew because of this war and because of the fact that Russia uses energy as a weapon,” he said.

According to him, Russia has decided "to start turning off the gas." So far, this has affected a number of EU countries, "which it threatened, which it worried about." “And so she stopped the main Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline. This is a signal,” the President believes.

He sees this as "a clear message that Russia will use gas as an element of this war."

“We are in what is called a hybrid war,” Macron explained.

The President objected to those who believe that the energy crisis is a consequence of Western sanctions against Russia.

"It is Russia that uses energy, just as it uses food as a weapon of war," he said.

“I believe that today we must prepare a scenario in which we have to completely do without Russian gas. And I think this is not a theoretical scenario. This is a very tough scenario. We must prepare for it. And here I want to tell the truth very firmly to our compatriots: such a risk exists, it does not depend on us. And I think that this risk, this choice that Russia can make, it is probable,” Macron concluded.

According to him, as part of preparations for the winter, state authorities and enterprises will be explained the need to save gas and electricity.

The President also acknowledged that given the risk of energy shortages and rising tariffs in the long term, nuclear power could be a viable solution.