The EU is just looking for more options. The reality is that they need to buy gas from everyone. They can play for the lowest price if they have more options. Russia will still sell them gas. Just not as much, and the Russians will not have such a strong hand.
Russia has a world of resources and China has the people. In the end, China will control Russia. It may take a century but its inevitable that Russia will start to devolve and China will gradually take over Russia. Russia’s only chance is to play off India which also needs resources.
Putin’s population is small and shrinking. And both China and India are large and growing. At sometime one or both of them will move north. Russia will not be able to do anything about it. I figure China will control Eastern Russia in 50 years.
This explains why Russia is hostile to the West/Europe.
Russia is in bind. The way out? Conquer Europe and thus increase its population problem against China.
That is really the only hope they have in the long run of maintaining territory.