Russia Halts Nord Stream Gas Pipeline, Ratcheting Up Pressure on Europe

BERLIN — Russia on Wednesday shut down its main natural gas pipeline to Europe for maintenance in what Western governments see as the latest salvo in the Kremlin’s economic war on the continent.

The shutdown comes as European nations struggle to fill gas storage facilities to prevent a mid-winter shortage. Shortages would trigger rationing, likely to bring industry to its knees and plunge the continent’s already struggling economy into recession.