Russia has opted against sending more natural gas supplies to Europe, curbing hopes that Moscow may ease its grip on the market shortly after President Vladimir Putin said the country would help. Russia is Europe’s largest gas supplier, providing around 43% of the European Union’s gas imports last year. Russia’s state gas giant Gazprom had not booked additional gas transit capacity for November. Energy analysts say Russia is in little hurry to boost supplies to the region, providing further evidence that the Kremlin is positioning itself to deliver commercial flows via Nord Stream 2 — a contentious natural gas pipeline designed to transport Russian gas directly to Germany via the Baltic Sea. Critics of Nord Stream 2 argue the pipeline is not compatible with European climate goals, increases the region’s dependence on Russian energy exports, and will strengthen Putin’s economic and political influence over the region.