Russian President Vladimir Putin denied on Wednesday that Moscow is using energy as a “weapon” against Europe, days after Russian gas supplies through the Nord Stream pipeline were cut off.
“[Os ocidentais] They say that Russia uses energy as a weapon. Another nonsense! What weapon do we use? We supply everything necessary, according to the requests made” by importing countries, Putin said during the 7th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia’s Far East.
“Give us a turbine and tomorrow we will relaunch Nord Stream,” the Russian president said.
Russian giant Gazprom said on Friday that the Nord Stream gas pipeline – which links Russia with Germany and was due to resume service on Saturday after a brief interruption for maintenance operations – would be completely closed until a turbine was repaired, without specifying a time. date to resume operation.
This announcement reinforced the fears of European countries of a total cut off of Russian gas to the continent, with the approach of winter and in a context of rampant inflation in energy prices.
The European Union (EU) has accused Moscow of using gas supplies as a means of pressure in the context of the conflict in Ukraine.
Moscow, for its part, alleges that sanctions against it for its invasion of Ukraine have caused a shortage of spare parts, threatening the integrity of the Nord Stream pipeline.
“We are ready to [retomar as exportações através do gasoduto Nord Stream] morning. All you need to do is push a button,” Putin launched at the Europeans, pointing out that it was not Russia that “imposed sanctions.”
But “we have fallen into an impasse because of Western sanctions” in retaliation for the Russian offensive in Ukraine, he lamented.
The Russian president also called the European Union’s (EU) plans to limit the price of Russian gas a “foolish” and “futureless” initiative, arguing that this will only cause an increase in costs.
“It’s nonsense. Attempts to limit gasoline prices in Europe will only drive prices up,” Putin said.
“If European countries want to give up their competitive advantages, it is up to them to decide,” he said.
“Winter Will Be Long”
These statements come after Gazprom released a video showing several European countries covered in snow and ice after an employee of the Russian energy giant shut down an oil pipeline. In the background, a song by Varvara Vizbor whose lyrics say “Winter will be long.”
The Russian Gazprom published a video “Winter will be great” where the company turns off the flow of gas and begins the ice age in Europe.
Do you really think that you can kill thousands of Ukrainians, capture another country’s territory, and Europe will look the other way, afraid of gas blackmail? pic.twitter.com/5Zwjg3x9su
– Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) September 5, 2022
The video was shared on Twitter by Ukrainian government adviser and former deputy interior minister Anton Geraschenko, who accuses Russia of “blackmail.”
Source: TSF
