If it were a question of morality, the EU would be chewing grass and not buying gas from Russia – Kommersant

Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that the refusal of European Union countries to supply Russian gas cannot be considered a matter of morality. He drew attention to the fact that European countries still continue to purchase gas from the Russian Federation, which is supplied through Ukraine and through the Turkish Stream gas pipeline. At the same time, the EU and Germany are refusing to use Nord Stream 2.

“If it were moral, we would have to say: “We won’t take it through the Turkish Stream,” we won’t take it through the territory of Ukraine. Well, then we can assume that everything has been cut off, and no, we won’t take anything from Russia. We’ll chew grass. “But we won’t let Russia earn a single euro. But they take it via other routes – why don’t they take it here?”, the head of state said during a discussion at Russian Energy Week.

Vladimir Putin also admitted that Gazprom currently supplies less gas to Europe and receives less income. Nevertheless, according to him, the gas concert “copes” with all the difficulties. “Now Gazprom supplies less, and the profitability and income are lower. Well, nothing, Gazprom feels confident, calm, and is coping,” the president emphasized, adding that Gazprom’s business is now actively diversifying by entering new markets and building new pipelines.

Russian gas to Europe is now pumped through the territory of Ukraine and via the Turkish Stream. At the beginning of 2023, due to a reduction in demand, the volume of supplies through Sudzha decreased by 40%. It recovered by August due to strikes at LNG plants in Australia, which caused gas prices to fluctuate in the European market.

Read more in the Kommersant article. “Gas is obtained spot”.

Alexander Kislov