Gas prices surged as Russia carried through with its threat to halt flows. Bloomberg News European gas rose after Russia blocked flows to Poland and Bulgaria, sending a warning to the continent that it’s serious about cutting supplies amid a standoff over fuel payments. Gazprom PJSC suspended gas supplies to Bulgargaz and Poland’s PGNiG and will keep the supplies turned off until the two countries agree to pay in rubles, the Russian gas producer said in a statement Wednesday. Benchmark Dutch futures soared as much as 24% to 127.50 euros per megawatt-hour, the highest level since April 1, before paring those gains. For weeks, Moscow and the European Union have been locked in a dispute, with President Vladimir Putin ordering payment in the Russian currency from “unfriendly” buyers, and the bloc saying the demand violates sanctions. Poland has been particularly vocal in its criticism of Russia — Europe’s […]