Hydraulic fracturing is banned across most of Europe, but, as the EU turns to the US for an alternative gas supply, how much fracked fuel will slip in through the side door?

The German government has activated its emergency plan for gas supplies, as fears rise that Russia could cut off the flow of gas to Europe. The early warning, announced by Economy Minister Robert Habeck, is the first of three stages in Berlin's emergency plan aimed at securing supplies. The move comes as Moscow insists it be paid in roubles for Russian gas. Also today, we report on how the sanctions on Russia are affecting the diamond trade in the Belgian city of Antwerp.

While the EU tries to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, others are cashing in. India is buying more oil from Russia, at a heavily discounted price. It's already ordered six million barrels of Russian crude oil – half of last year's imports. Also in the show: Ghana's lawmakers approve a controversial "e-levy", a 1.5 percent tax on electronic payments.

Vladimir Putin has backtracked on a demand that European customers pay for Russian natural gas imports in roubles, staving off an immediate supply problem. But Germany has activated the first stage of an emergency law that would pave the way for gas rationing. Officials are urging households and businesses to reduce their energy consumption, as they try to diversify their suppliers. Also in the show: inflation in Spain hits a 37-year high, as the government rolls out additional aid.

In visiting Kyiv, Roberta Metsola becomes the first EU top official to visit Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor on February 24.

Brussels is seeking to warn Beijing about supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine — and to use its influence to stop the war. Some experts, however, are skeptical about what can be achieved during the EU-China summit.

Amid supermarket food rationing, a truck drivers' strike over petrol prices and rising inflation in Spain, the country's economy minister tells FRANCE 24 that it's "essential" for Madrid to be allowed to take measures to bring electricity prices down. "We're working with the Commission to have an authorisation to decouple our energy market and thus stop this price increase […] It doesn't make sense that Spanish and Portuguese citizens do not benefit from the fact that we have for instance at least 50 percent of our generation from renewables. This is very cheap and clean energy and our citizens should benefit from these low prices," Nadia Calviño explains.

Russian gas continues to flow into Europe after President Vladimir Putin threatened to cut off supplies unless they are paid in roubles, a demand rejected by European leaders as a breach of contract. However, Putin's decree does include a mechanism under which foreign buyers would set up special accounts at Gazprombank, which would convert foreign currency payments into roubles on their behalf. Plus, workers at an Amazon warehouse in New York could be heading for a landmark victory for organised labour following a vote on whether to unionise.

As Serbs prepare to vote in parliamentary and presidential polls on Sunday, members of Germany's Bundestag tell DW that they expect the government in Belgrade to make a clear break with Vladimir Putin's Russia.

This week, we start with some good news. Radiation levels are "quite normal" around Chernobyl. The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog confirms that Russian forces have pulled back from the site of Europe's worst-ever nuclear disaster. The IAEA is working with both sides to avoid Chernobyl again becoming a frontline in the war in Ukraine.

Inspired by Greta Thunberg, Adenike Oladuso launched the fight against climate change in Nigeria, with a twist: For her, the question is eco-feminism.

The European Union is mulling a total phaseout of coal imports from Russia as the bloc considers how to move away from Russian energy. Germany has voiced support for a possible coal embargo.