Berlin | As the leaders of Europe’s three biggest economies appeared in Kyiv on Thursday (Friday AEST) to send a message of support to Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin had his own message for them: Don’t forget, your industries are at my mercy.

With inflation already near a 40-year-high, gas prices surged further as Russia cut flows to Europe’s most important natural gas pipeline for the second day in a row on Thursday. Germany, Italy, Austria and the Czech Republic all reported shortfalls.