Sooo...
Germany is currently buying their natural gas from Russia. they desperately need this, since they shut down their nuclear plants and have gaps in their electric grid. Perhaps the UK education system has forgotten post 1944 Foreign policy starting with the Casablanca Conference, leading to Potsdam and then post war and then the cold war. Quite a bit of history that shaped the following 50+ years.
Now I can get the mocking of the branding. Its silly.
But it exists to serve a point.
I'm sorry, but perhaps El Reg should stick to technology news. Clearly the 'journalist' who wrote this article should go back to school and learn a new trade.