Vladimir Putin blames the west for energy market disruptions

Russian president claims Europeans are stocking up on firewood as leak found in oil pipeline in Poland

Vladimir Putin has blamed the west for disruptions to the energy market and spiralling heating costs, claiming that desperate Europeans had begun to stock up on firewood ahead of the cold winter months.

The Russian president has sought to deflect blame for the oil and gas crisis sparked by his invasion of Ukraine, and tried to pressure European governments to drop sanctions against Moscow.