Moscow continues to target Ukrainian power plants and stations. Grain shipments out of Ukraine have been interrupted since Russia paused participation in a United Nations-brokered agreement that allowed a corridor in the Black Sea for cargo ships to transit. And there’s the prospect of a tactical nuclear weapon attack or even a meltdown at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. “We’re seeing this is becoming a real security issue with the Russians using food as a weapon of war turning off and turning on grain supplies as a way to try to coerce and manipulate the West,” said Matthew Kroenig, acting director of the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. Europe is also planning for a long-term change in energy policy, with most countries changing from relying on Russian energy exports. “We are already experiencing a very strong decoupling between Europe and Russia on energy,” said Simone Tagliapietra, a senior fellow at Bruegel, a Brussels-based think tank. Watch the video above to find out more about the challenges Ukraine and Europe face this winter, and the potential solutions to these pressing problems.
