The possible impact of such an energy crisis in these regions should not be underestimated and could be far worse than anyone at this point would expect. Through disturbances in natural gas and crude oil deliveries, Moscow already appears to be flexing its muscles with the prospect of weaponizing the dependence of Eastern Europe and Germany on Russian energy. Russia can use its ability to cause considerable economic, and to a certain degree even existential pain for these societies, to try to turn public opinion in these societies against NATO’s war effort supporting Ukraine, or in the most extreme case, possibly even against NATO itself, as the narratives by pro-Russian groups in these countries are already blaming Ukraine, NATO, and the US for the already present economic hardships.
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