Russia to cut Kazakh oil transit to Germany

Russia will cease the transit of oil from Kazakhstan to Germany via the strategic Druzhba pipeline starting May 1, 2026. This move poses a serious threat to Germany's energy security, as the affected refinery supplies 90% of the fuel for the capital Berlin and the country's northeastern states. The Financial Times reports the action marks Russia's entry into an 'energy war,' leveraging its control over critical infrastructure. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has previously framed similar suspensions as being due to 'technical issues.'