JRL NEWSWATCH: “High fuel prices could kill more Europeans than fighting in Ukraine” – The Economist
“Russia is using energy as a weapon. How deadly will it be?”
“To win … in Ukraine … Putin needs the West to stop supporting his adversary. His best opportunity to drive a wedge between them will arrive this winter. … In August [] Putin turned off … a big pipeline to Europe. Fuel prices surged, squeezing the economies of Ukraine’s allies. … Europe has weathered this shock well, stockpiling enough gas to fill storage sites. But … real average residential European gas and electricity costs are 144% and 78% above the figures for 2000-19. …
[I]f … historical relationships between mortality, weather and energy costs continue to apply … the death toll from [] Putin’s ‘energy weapon’ could exceed the number of soldiers who have died … in combat. … [C]old temperatures are usually deadlier than hot ones. Between December and February, 21% more Europeans die per week than from June to August. …”