Every second resident of Germany is afraid of freezing in the coming winter due to the reduction of Russian gas supplies and inflation in the European Union, the German edition of Bild reports with reference to the INSA survey data.

The majority of respondents – 75 percent – called the price increase a heavy or very heavy burden, 50 percent reported a worsening of their economic situation.

As the publication writes with reference to the statistical service Eurostat, the inflation rate in Europe in June reached a peak for the first time since the introduction of the single currency 20 years ago.

The article also quotes German Economy Minister Robert Habeck, who said that Russian gas could almost run out in a week. According to the publication, as of July 11, there is a threat of a “blockade of Nord Stream as a whole.”

“Nord Stream” today serves as the main route for Russian gas supplies. In June, Gazprom reported that it could only use three gas compressor units (GCU) at the station, in part because of delays in the work of Germany’s Siemens. Soon the Russian company announced that it was stopping another Siemens gas turbine and from the 16th will be able to supply Nord Stream with no more than 67 million cubic meters per day against the planned 167 million.

As a result, the pipeline operator Nord Stream AG confirmed that both strings of Nord Stream will be stopped for maintenance from July 11 to 21. The schedule and work plan were agreed in advance with all partners and participants of the transportation chain.

After the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, the West increased sanctions pressure on Moscow. Some countries announced the freezing of Russian assets, and many brands left the country. The European Union has already approved six packages of sanctions, which, in particular, provide for the gradual introduction of an embargo on imports of coal and oil. At the same time, in Europe and the U.S., these steps have provoked a record jump in inflation, particularly for fuel and food.

Vladimir Putin said that the policy of containing and weakening Russia is a long-term strategy of Western countries, while the sanctions have dealt a serious blow to the entire global economy. During his speech at the SPIEF, the Russian leader said that oil and gas prices were rising because of the activities of the United States itself.