For Europe, the web of natural gas pipelines crisscrossing Ukraine is a lifeline that keeps the lights on; for Russia, a cash cow it won't easily give up; and for Ukraine, a security blanket that offers some protection against Russian airstrikes. We look at why none of the three entities are ready to cut off the flow through those pipelines just yet.
Europe's days as Russia's best customer for energy appear to be numbered. Moscow will need to find new markets if it is to remain an oil and gas superpower, but its options are limited.
A Soviet-era pipeline, opposed by the president but supported by the oil and gas industry, set up the dependency that today helps fund the Russian assault on Ukraine.