Key Russian gas pipeline resumes supply to Europe

Yes, but: European leaders of countries that have long been dependent on Russia for fossil fuels remain concerned that Putin will use its resources as a bargaining chip against Western allies of Ukraine and that supplies could be unreliable

Between the lines: "Despite a rush to diversify, Germany remains at the whim of Russia for about a third of its gas supply, and France about a fifth," per the Washington Post.

What's happening: Operator Nord Stream AG told Germany's dpa news agency that the latest gas supply volumes were the same as before the maintenance period — about 40% of maximum supply capacity. 

• Klaus Müller, president of Germany's Federal Network Agency, tweeted that supplies from Russia's state-owned Gazprom, which exports gas through Nord Stream 1, were running at roughly 30% of the pipeline's capacity on Thursday morning.

What we're watching: European Union leaders, citing risks from "the Kremlin's weaponization of gas exports," proposed plans Wednesday for all member states to reduce natural gas consumption by 15% until spring, per Axios' Ben Geman.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.