The energy stand-off between Russia and Europe is reaching high noon. The Kremlin last week shut down indefinitely its main westwards gas pipeline, Nord Stream 1, cutting total Russian gas flows to a fraction of prewar levels and sending prices surging. Vladimir Putin’s calculation is that European countries will prove less able to bear soaring winter energy bills and possible shortages than Russia can withstand western sanctions — and that their unity and resolve will shatter before the spring brings renewed military offensives in Ukraine. With Kyiv’s forces starting to make breakthroughs, the coming energy battle is one that democratic Europe cannot lose.
俄罗斯和欧洲之间的能源对峙达到顶点。上周，克里姆林宫无限期关闭了向西输气的主要天然气管道北溪1号(Nord Stream 1)，使俄罗斯天然气总流量降至战前水平的一小部分，并导致价格飙升。弗拉基米尔•普京(Vladimir Putin)的盘算是，事实将证明，欧洲国家承受冬季能源账单飙升和可能出现的能源短缺的能力，将低于俄罗斯承受西方制裁的能力——而且在明年春季乌克兰出现新的军事攻势之前，欧洲国家的团结和决心将瓦解。随着基辅方面的军队开始取得突破，即将到来的能源之战是民主的欧洲不能输的。