It will be difficult for Europe to find a replacement for Russian gas before the end of the year, said Alexander Kamkin, a researcher at the Center at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

According to the expert, the rise in gas prices is due to the nervousness of the market about possible interruptions.

The sanctions imposed against Russia for the operation to protect the Donbass will hit the German economy hard.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the decision to stop the Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 timely.