WASHINGTON (Reuters).-U.S. President Joe Biden’s international energy security adviser stated Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be using the situation to his advantage as a political tool if Russia halts fuel exports to Europe because of its energy shortage.

According to Amos Hochstein who was Biden’s adviser when asked whether Putin was using gas for weapons, “I think that we are coming close to that line. If Russia truly has the gas supply but it chooses to not. And it will only do that if Europe accepts other demands that are totally unrelated.”

Hochstein stated that gas prices have risen in Europe due to events outside the region, but also because of a dry season for China which has resulted in lower energy production from hydropower and increased competition for natural gas.

He said that while there are many factors to explain the European gas crisis and Russia can be of assistance to Europe the best.

Hochstein declared, “There is no doubt, and (International Energy Agency) validated it, that Russia is the sole supplier that could really make a difference in European energy security for the current winter.”

Russia should increase its gas upstream production, which he said can be done quickly via existing pipelines.

Yuriy Vitrenko is the chief of Ukraine’s state-owned energy company Naftogaz. He claimed this month that Russia tried to intimidate Europe by certifying Nord Stream 2 through fuel shortages. Washington is opposed to the pipeline because it circumvents Ukraine. However, Germany must approve it before Russian gas can be delivered under the Baltic Sea from Europe.