The Crimea conflict highlights anew Europe’s reliance on Russian gas, but compared with disputes of the past decade that cut fuel supplies, European countries are now better prepared to weather a showdown. Russia, which over the weekend sparked Western ire by occupying the Crimea region of Ukraine, supplies about 30% of the European Union’s gas by volume, according to Gazprom , the Russian state-controlled gas company. About half of Russia’s gas bound for Europe flows through Ukraine. But those flows halted in 2006 and 2009 amid financial disputes between Moscow and Kiev, with each side blaming the other. During that last spat, gas price soared across Europe and many countries faced shortages. Today, Europe is better prepared to withstand any supply disruptions, experts say. The Continent’s weak economy, new gas pipelines and changing energy policies have weakened demand for fuel and diversified supply routes. Europe today is awash with […]