Ukraine war prompts European reappraisal of its energy supplies

Analysis: Russian invasion could speed up renewables transition - or lead to disastrous return to coal

Vladimir Putin is using Russia's hold over fossil fuel supplies to Europe as a political and economic weapon" in the war in Ukraine, the world's foremost energy adviser has said, presenting western governments with crucial questions over how they face down the threat to democracy while also heading off climate disaster.

Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, said: Nobody is under any illusions any more. Russia's use of its natural gas resources as an economic and political weapon shows Europe needs to act quickly to be ready to face considerable uncertainty over Russian gas supplies next winter."