All this is part of Russia's strategy to undermine our unity," Timmermans told EU lawmakers.

"So the risk of full gas disruption is now more real than ever before," he stressed.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that cuts in Russian gas supplies to Europe were a result of technical issues, rather than political reasons, adding there was "no hidden agenda."

'Economic confrontation'

Habeck called on all consumers — industry, households and public institutions — to reduce their consumption as much as possible "so that we can get through the winter."

European natural gas futures prices have soared by about 60% since the middle of this month to trade around €133 ($140) per megawatt hour (MWh), levels last seen in March, according to data from the Intercontinental Exchange.

Habeck said while German gas storage facilities are 58% full — higher than at this time last year — the goal of reaching 90% by December won't be achievable without further measures.

"We are in an economic confrontation with Russia," Habeck said.

Gazprom's recent throttling of gas flows comes after it had already cut off supplies to Poland, Bulgaria and Finland, and to energy companies in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands, because of their refusal to comply with the Kremlin's demand to be paid in rubles.

Turning to coal

Germany, Austria and other EU countries are now turning to coal and oil-fired power stations so more gas can be diverted into storage for heating homes during the winter.

Europe has tried to reduce its reliance on Russian natural gas since the invasion of Ukraine in late February.

Germany has managed to reduce Moscow's share of its imports to 35% from 55% before the start of the war.