Stage one of the German government’s emergency gas plan has been triggered after Berlin rejected Moscow’s demand to pay for supplies in rubles amidst concerns Russia will cut off deliveries.
Economy Minister Robert Habeck insists the country’s supply is guaranteed with no supply issues at present, but added the plan’s further escalation levels are possible, which could include gas rationing.
The move comes as the German Council of Economic Experts claimed their forecasts see a GDP expansion of just 1.8%, down from earlier predictions of 4.6%.