Former U.S. President Donald Trump, during his speech at a rally of his supporters in Ohio, warned the Germans, saying that due to the reduction of gas supplies from Russia, they may lose the country, reports RIA Novosti.

He said that once, when Angela Merkel was Chancellor of Germany sent her a white flag for surrender and when she asked what it was for, Trump said that if they get 72% of their energy from Russia, then they would have to give up very quickly.

The former U.S. president noted that his words were not taken seriously at the time and he was ridiculed, but now they are no laughing matter.

According to him, Germany today has to go back to things as old-fashioned as coal because the country has no choice.

The crisis is already weighing heavily on Europe's economy, even before winter arrives, when industrial consumers could face rationing if gas supplies fall short. Industry sentiment in the bloc's economic center, Germany, has fallen.

Germany's finance ministry has said it wants to increase government loans to energy companies, using loan approvals created to help with the COVID-19 pandemic.