The head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, said that Russia would start gas blackmailing Europe after the onset of cold weather.
He wrote about this in the Telegram channel.
"It cannot be ruled out that russia, in addition to the food crisis, will start gas blackmailing Europe with the onset of cold weather. Given that the kremlin now wants to exchange the unblocking of Ukrainian ports for the lifting of sanctions, we can understand the ultimate goal of moscow", - Yermak said.
He stressed that it is important now to demonstrate the strength and unity of the Western world.
"Ukraine's economic support, tariffs and embargoes on Russian oil, sanctions against the Russian banking system, secondary sanctions, as well as the weapons our state is asking for, are a strong, common response. Strikes on Russia must be quick, without hesitation. Otherwise, the Kremlin will try to split the EU and continue its own blackmail", - the head of the President's Office added.
Earlier, European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said that the EU is developing a plan in case Russia stops supplying gas this year.