The German government said there was no technical justification for Gazprom’s announcement.

“According to the information we have there is no technical reason for a reduction of deliveries,” a German economy ministry spokeswoman said.

German group Siemens Energy, which is charged with maintaining the turbine, also said in a statement that it saw “no link between the turbine and the gas cuts that have been implemented or announced”.

Gazprom’s announcement came after Russia last week restored critical gas supplies to Europe through Germany via Nord Stream after 10 days of maintenance, but only at 40 per cent of the pipeline’s capacity.

Germany, which is heavily dependent on Russian gas, has accused Moscow of using energy as a “weapon”.

Gazprom cut flows to Germany via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline under the Baltic Sea in recent weeks, blaming the absence of a Siemens gas turbine that was undergoing repairs in Canada.

Earlier on Monday, Gazprom said it had received paperwork related to the delayed delivery of the turbine but pointed out a number of issues remained, including those relating to EU and UK sanctions.

But Siemens contested the argument.

“The transportation of the turbine could start immediately. The German authorities provided Siemens Energy with all the necessary documents for the export of the turbine to Russia at the beginning of last week. Gazprom is aware of this,” the German group said in its statement.

“What is missing, however, are the customs documents for import to Russia. Gazprom, as the customer, is required to provide those,” it said.

The showdown comes amid raging tensions over Russia’s intervention in Ukraine. EU states have accused Russia of squeezing supplies in retaliation for Western sanctions over the offensive.

The European Union has suggested that member states reduce demand for gas to secure winter stocks.

A total shutdown in imports or a sharp reduction in the flow from east to west could have a catastrophic effect on the European economy, shutting factories and forcing households to turn down the heat.

A number of countries said they oppose the EU plan to reduce demand for gas, with Warsaw on Monday voicing its objections to a 15 per cent reduction in natural gas consumption.

“We cannot agree to this,” said Polish Climate Minister Anna Moskwa.

“It is difficult for countries to give the green light to a mandatory gas reduction without knowing what will happen next winter,” she said, quoted by the PAP agency.

Reacting to Gazprom’s announcement, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday called on Europe to retaliate against Russia’s “gas war” by boosting its sanctions against Moscow.

“Today we heard new gas threats to Europe ... This is an open gas war that Russia is waging against a united Europe,” Zelensky said.