European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced five "immediate measures" the EU can take to address the energy crisis, which she blamed on Russia and climate change, Politico reported. 

"Russia is manipulating our energy markets and we are confronted with astronomic prices," she said.

The EC would propose a price cap on Russian gas, a mandatory goal to reduce electricity consumption during peak hours, a cap on revenues for companies that do not produce electricity using natural gas, a "solidarity contribution" from fossil fuel companies raking in record amounts and help for utilities with liquidity support.

"These are tough times and they're not over soon," von der Leyen said. "But I am convinced that Europeans have the economic strength, the political will, and unity to keep the upper hand."

The European Commission president said the EU is "also looking at" the price caps on gas imports from other countries.

She did not mention in her official proposals the idea promoted by Spain and some other countries to separate the price of natural gas from the price of electricity, one of the reasons for the continent's skyrocketing electricity prices.

The Commission will formally put the proposal forward next Tuesday, she added, after EU energy ministers have a chance to discuss options at the emergency Energy Council on Friday.

As winter approaches, EU countries are trying to contain an energy crisis that could lead to rolling blackouts, plant closures and a deep recession. Russia has already partially or completely cut off gas supplies to 13 EU countries.

"We are facing an extraordinary situation, because Russia is an unreliable supplier but also because Russia’s actively manipulating the gas market," von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels. "We must cut Russia’s revenues, which (President Vladimir) Putin uses to finance his atrocious war in Ukraine,” she insisted, AP reported. 

The EC president declined to disclose any levels of the price cap. Von der Leyen said the commission, , noted that oil and gas companies have made "enormous profits." Europe's drought is fueling higher electricity demand and limiting hydropower production, just as Russia is using its energy power.

"We will therefore propose a solidarity contribution for fossil fuel companies,” von der Leyen said, urging member states to "invest these revenues to support vulnerable households and invest in clean homegrown energy sources.”