European natural gas prices rose as Russia’s deep supply cuts are slowing the pace of refilling storage sites, threatening to fall short of the levels required to keep homes warm in the coming winter. Benchmark futures started the week with a gain of as much as 6.9%. Buyers have found it more difficult to replace Russian gas from elsewhere after flows through a major route to the European Union were cut by 60% earlier this month. Germany is warning of rationing, and concerns about EU unity if supply becomes scarce. “There’s the threat of a scenario where gas would have to be rationed which, in my view, would lead to a severe economic crisis in Germany and Europe,” German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said before a meeting of European Union energy ministers in Luxembourg on Monday. “A supply crisis in one member state will lead to an economic crisis […]