Russia And Europe's Mutual Dependency On Natural Gas

07:29

March 05, 2014

A man wearing a hard hat looks out at the central facility where the Nord Stream Baltic Sea gas pipeline reaches western Europe following the pipeline's official inauguration on November 8, 2011 in Lubmin, Germany. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

A third of Europe's natural gas comes from Russia, most of it through Ukrainian pipelines. Russia has used the gas as a weapon before, to gain the upper hand in conflicts with its neighbors.

But the relationship cuts both ways, with over half of Russia's federal budget dependent on energy imports.

Phil Flynn, energy market analyst with Price Futures Group, joins Here & Now's Robin Young to discuss Russia and Europe's mutual dependency on natural gas.

Guest

Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at Price Futures Group. He tweets @EnergyPhilFlynn.

This segment aired on March 5, 2014.