The suspensions are the first since Russia insisted foreign buyers pay for gas in rubles. Both Poland and Bulgaria have said Gazprom are in breach of contact.

The rest of Europe may not be at war, but is it ready for the sacrifices of a wartime economy? The Kremlin shutting the gas tap on Bulgaria and Poland may be but a prelude to a brutally swift transition away from Russian gas and oil. Deals will be dropped, money will be lost.

Europe is at a crossroads. Amid the war in Ukraine, can the continent wean itself off Russian gas? An energy transition is underway, but the alternatives could lock countries into dirty fossil fuels for years to come. We take a closer look in this edition of Down to Earth.

The German public is divided on the issue of military support for Ukraine. Many fear the delivery of tanks and training of Ukrainian soldiers in Germany may drag the country into the war.

As the World Economic Forum in Davos draws to a close, Business Editor Kate Moody gives us an update on the final day's agenda. The war in Ukraine and global food and energy security dominated discussions throughout the event. The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, has told FRANCE 24 that it will be very difficult for Europe to move away from Russian gas because of its over-reliance on the country's supplies over the years.

The Czech Republic and Slovakia rely heavily on Russian gas imports. Now, the Ukraine war and skyrocketing gas costs have forced both countries to consider other energy sources.

A decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin stipulates that Western countries must start paying for gas through a Russian bank that will transfer foreign currency into rubles.

This week, we explore the upcoming French legislative elections, the so-called "third round" of the presidential race. This time, French voters are electing 577 MPs to the Assemblée nationale, the lower house of parliament. Though arguably just as important as the race for the Élysée Palace, turnout tends to be lower. So do these elections work? We tell you more in this edition of French Connections.

The vote by lawmakers in the Democratic-majority House follows mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York. The measure is unlikely to pass in the Senate.

The German government is planning to expand the powers of its antitrust authorities. The move comes after recent measures to compensate for rising gasoline prices have turned into a profit windfall for oil companies.

Already-strained global gas supplies have been shaken once again. An LNG terminal in Texas will remain offline for longer than expected after a fire last week, while Russia's Gazprom has said it's cutting supplies to Europe by some 40 percent. Also in the show: investors look ahead to a possible 0.75% interest rate hike as the US Federal Reserve tries to rein in spiralling inflation, and farmers in Ukraine worry about this year's harvest.

"What a special moment," European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said after signing the gas memorandum. Europe is looking for alternate sources of energy since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.