OREANDA-NEWS. There is an energy crisis in European countries. Interruptions in energy supplies have led to the fact that prices for them reached record highs, reports Bloomberg.

The agency notes that this is fraught with exacerbation of the already alarming situation in Ukraine.

In order to overcome the energy crisis, it is necessary to switch to cleaner forms of energy as soon as possible, the publication says.

The material also says that the leaders of European countries should reduce imports of Russian gas and expand access to alternative energy sources, which will benefit the continent and improve the climate. This presupposes new investments in infrastructure, gas storage facilities, and the expansion of the use of nuclear energy. European states need to create a more sustainable energy sector and prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin from using energy as a weapon to divide the West, Bloomberg reporters say.

They also indicated that the demand of European countries for foreign purchases of gas is increasing. Russia is the largest supplier of blue fuel. The country accounted for almost 47% of natural gas imports in the European Union in the first half of this year. Gazprom has significant opportunities for underground storage in the EU, giving Moscow leverage. And with the commissioning of Nord Stream 2, Moscow's influence will increase,

Bloomberg previously wrote that the energy crisis in Europe may worsen due to cuts in Russian gas supplies to Germany via the main transit route, through the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline.