Germany, which has long remained the largest buyer of Russian natural gas, has belatedly and bluntly stated as fact what's long been among its greatest 'worst case scenario' fears, that Moscow is using its energy exports as a "weapon". However, Moscow is arguing that its latest actions to reduce supplies - estimated by Berlin officials at this point to have been at about a 3% reduction of normal deliveries - is a natural and inevitable response to Germany seizing Gazprom subsidiaries in the country to "ensure supply" against the backdrop of the Ukraine invasion. A month ago, Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister ... (full story)