Russia admits using its gas as a weapon, sending prices soaring

RUSSIA’S terror tactics were laid bare yesterday as the Kremlin admitted to using its gas as a weapon, sending prices soaring. Moscow had claimed it closed a key gas pipeline to Europe for ‘repairs’. AFPPutin, pictured here at a falconry centre in the far eastern city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskyi, has been accused of weaponising gas[/caption] But Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted the Nord Stream 1 would only reopen if crippling sanctions on Russia were lifted. And he vowed to hit back at G7 plans to cap the price of Russian oil. He said: “There can only be retaliatory measures.” It pushed UK gas prices up 25.8 per cent – more than six times higher than a year ago – while in Europe gas prices jumped 30 per cent. Read more on Russia BRACED FOR WAR Putin oversees war games as China deploys largest destroyer in joint armada SANCS A LOT Welcome to sanction-hit Russia, where prices are DOWN as Brits suffer Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “Putin is weaponising energy. “Russia is deliberately setting out to harm us and trying to test whether we will sacrifice our values for our energy costs.” For months Russia has claimed it is cutting supplies to Europe because of maintenance on the key pipeline. But yesterday’s comments confirmed a plot to use gas to hurt Europe by Putin — who yesterday calmly took a break from preying on Ukraine to meet volunteers at a falcon centre in the far eastern city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskyi. Most read in The Sun PUMP IT UP Drivers warned over petrol prices at supermarkets including Asda and Tesco 'BLOODBATH' Screams heard before twins, 8, ‘hacked to death with machete’ & sister killed 'BITTER & TWISTED' I met Shamima Begum - a chilling text changed my whole opinion of her FEELS NICE Barkley joins Nice on free transfer and poses in front of mirror wearing new kit SOCK IT TO 'EM Fans are all saying the same thing as Arsenal wear 'basic £10 socks' vs Utd TOTALLY BAFFLED I’m plus size & accused of wearing ‘inappropriate’ outfits - I don’t get it EU chief Ursula von der Leyen fumed: “Putin is using energy as a weapon by cutting supply and manipulating our energy markets. He will fail. Europe will prevail.” Russian gas giant Gazprom halted supplies on Friday citing a “technical fault”. But Germany’s gas importer launched immediate legal action, insisting it was a “political decision not a technical one”.