The European Union (EU) informed it’s members on Wednesday that they should cut gas usage by 15% until March of next year, due to President Vladimir Putin’s warning that gas supplies sent over the pipeline from Russia to Europe could be reduced and even stop.

The Russian pipeline, Nord Stream 1, supplies more than a third of Russian gas exports to the EU from Russia. 

Annual maintenance caused the deliveries to stop for ten days, but are set to resume on July 21. However, supplies have been reduced due to sanctions disputes, and may be cut even more, while other pipelines have also reduced their deliveries.  

The fuel supply disruptions and reductions are leading to rationing and can result in major shortages if Russia restricts flows in retaliation for sanctions.