The dance around the closure of Nord Stream seems to be over. Russia just closed it. He says he will do so until Europe lifts the sanctions against him. The question is whether this will actually be the case and whether the situation will change again in a few days' time. In any case, this move is the result of the fact that, according to an internal report, the Russian economy is and will be much worse off than is being presented publicly.
Nord Stream, the main backbone line for transporting Russian gas to Europe, is filling the headlines again and again. This time, Gazprom is explaining the non-operation of Nord Stream by an alleged technical fault. It also refers to Siemens, on which it says the resumption of gas supplies depends. The Kremlin, for its part, says that supplies will not resume until the European Union lifts sanctions against Russia.
These sanctions are a major thorn in the Kremlin's side.…