Europe remains in the middle between Russia and the United States in the Ukrainian crisis. Moscow continues to fuel tensions in Kiev but also in Europe and overseas. The danger is that an Ukrainian invasion will have serious consequences on the energy front as well. Meanwhile, the United States has sought the help of its close ally Qatar in providing emergency supplies if pipelines to Western Europe are cut, according to US officials. It is not clear yet if Vladimir Putin will attend the biannual Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit on 22 February. Russia, Iran and Qatar are key members of the forum, which will also hold two days of ministerial meetings. US President Joe Biden vowed on Monday to shut the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Europe if Moscow launches an invasion of Ukraine.