Russia is said to be considering replacing words and terms it believes are from the West in moves it deems necessary after the invasion of Ukraine earlier this year. The Kremlin said the proposal to designate the Russian president a governor is a “new idea” but “does not have a position on the matter”. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) – traditionally seen as loyal to the Kremlin – said renaming the presidential term was “important”. The press service of the LDPR in the lower house of the Russian parliament told the Tass news agency: “Although constitutional amendments are not on the current agenda, we still insist that it is important to call the country’s main position in Russia. “We propose two options: either a ruler or a head of state.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Tass: “It is a new idea. There is no place for this issue.” The Nord Stream pipeline has been shut down as fears grow over European gas supplies It comes as the largest single pipeline carrying Russian gas to Europe was shut down on Monday for “yearly maintenance” on concerns it could be used to damage economies and push up prices further. The flow of natural gas through Nord Stream 1 is expected to stop for 10 days – but there are fears across governments and markets that the shutdown will extend beyond that time. Europe is worried that Russia will also cut European gas supplies in an attempt to disrupt plans to fill storage facilities for the winter. Read more: Latest in Ukraine – army of one million Ukrainians is established Mr Peskov rejected claims Russia was using oil and gas to exert political pressure, saying the maintenance shutdown was a regular, planned event and no one was “inventing” repairs. There are other large pipelines from Russia to Europe, but flows are gradually decreasing. Ukraine cut off a natural gas transit route in May, blaming interference by Russian occupation forces.
