Putin’s energy war has changed German-Russian relations for good

After months of speculation and handwringing, it has finally happened: Germany and the rest of Europe are now receiving no natural gas through Nord Stream 1. Aside from how the continent manages to survive this winter, Russia’s moves to shut off supply through its pipeline will have serious long-term ramifications. One of the most significant strategic relationships in the last half-century of European politics has been that between Germany and Russia over energy. That now looks to be over, with no clear prospect of it ever returning.

As with before, Gazprom made technical excuses. This time, they claimed that an oil leak had led to Rostekhnadzor, the Russian state network regulator, ordering the pipeline’s closure until they could get it fixed. Like the other justifications, this doesn’t stand up to scrutiny, and it’s clear that the real motivation is western sanctions and support for Ukraine. Gazprom followed up by publishing highly unconvincing photographs of the oil leak.