Macron tells France to prepare for Russia to cut natural gas

Macron tells France to prepare for Russia to cut off natural gas.

French President Emmanuel Macron warned his country's people to prepare for a total cutoff of Russian natural gas by supporting alternatives, having public lights switched off at night and engaging in a period of nationwide energy "sobriety."

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and ensuing sanctions have aggravated other factors driving up prices for energy and others goods. With no end in sight for the Ukraine war, Macron said, the French should brace themselves for costs to remain high.

"This war will continue," he said in a televised interview marking France's national holiday, Bastille Day. "The summer, early autumn will be very hard."

"Russia is using energy, like it is using food, as a weapon of war," Macron said. "We should prepare ourselves for the scenario where we have to go without all Russian gas."

He said the government would prepare a "sobriety plan" to conserve energy, which would start with turning off public lights at night when they aren't useful.

— Associated Press