Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he will instruct the Russian government to examine the possibility of stopping energy supplies to Europe and redirecting them to Asian markets, as European countries plan to phase out Russian energy imports.In an interview with Russian state broadcaster VGTRK in Moscow, Putin said Europe itself intends to completely abandon Russian energy resources in the coming years.“They are planning to introduce restrictions on the purchase of Russian gas, including liquefied natural gas, within a month, with the last day being the 24th and the restrictions starting on the 25th. In 2027 there will be further restrictions leading up to a complete ban,” he said.
Putin suggested that Russia may benefit from redirecting its supplies to emerging markets instead of continuing shipments to Europe.“Other markets are opening up, and perhaps it would be more advantageous for us to stop supplies to the European market right now and move to those markets that are opening up,” he added.The Russian president said the idea was not politically motivated but rather a practical consideration. He noted that he would ask the government and energy companies to study the issue.Putin stressed that Russia has always been a reliable energy supplier to its partners, including European countries, and said cooperation would continue with states that remain dependable counterparts, mentioning Eastern European countries such as Slovakia and Hungary.According to Putin, the current energy crisis has been caused by what he called the “mistaken policies” of European authorities, including their emphasis on the green energy agenda and sanctions imposed on Russia.
He also linked rising global energy prices to tensions in the Middle East, including developments related to the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing military escalation involving the United States, Israel and Iran.Putin further described a recent attack on a Russian liquefied natural gas tanker near the territorial waters of Malta as a “terrorist act.” Russia’s Transport Ministry blamed unmanned Ukrainian boats for the strike.He also claimed that Ukrainian authorities, with alleged backing from Western intelligence services, could be preparing attacks on the Blue Stream and TurkStream gas pipelines, warning that such actions would be extremely dangerous.
Russian officials said they have already informed Turkey about the potential threat and are closely monitoring the situation.
