<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Russia has restarted gas supplies to Europe through its biggest pipeline, Nord Stream 1, following a 10-day maintenance break.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>There had been fears Moscow may not have resumed the flow in response to EU sanctions over the war in Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday, the European Commission urged countries to cut gas use by 15% over the next seven months in case Russia switched off Europe's supply.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia supplied Europe with 40% of its natural gas last year.</div><div><br></div><div>Germany was the continent's largest importer in 2020, but has reduced its dependence on Russian gas from 55% to 35%. Eventually, it wants to stop using gas from Russia altogether.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia's President Vladimir Putin has sought to play down fears, telling reporters that state gas firm Gazprom would fulfil all its contractual obligations.</div><div><br></div><div>The pipeline resumed operations early on Thursday morning, but a spokesman said it was only delivering 40% of its capacity.</div><div><br></div><div>This is the same level it was operating at in mid-June, when Gazprom cut gas flows blaming a delay in the return of equipment being serviced by Germany's Siemens Energy.</div><div><br></div><div>Few in Berlin, or any other European capital, trust Vladimir Putin to supply the energy upon which Germany, in particular, depends so heavily.</div><div><br></div><div>Even as Europe swelters through a heatwave, ministers here are painfully aware that the country doesn't currently have enough stored gas to see it through the winter.</div><div><br></div><div>They're urging people to save energy, scrambling to secure supplies of liquified natural gas from other countries and even firing up old coal power stations - despite a pledge to phase out the fossil fuel.</div><div><br></div><div>Industry leaders have warned that a shortfall in gas, which may yet lead to rationing, could trigger a recession.</div><div><br></div><div>That would delight Vladimir Putin, who wants to provoke political and economic chaos in the West. -bbc</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/TR</div>