Putin says Russia may halt energy supplies to Europe, redirect them to Asia
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Moscow may consider halting energy supplies to Europe and redirecting those resources to Asian markets, as relations between Russia and the European Union remain strained over sanctions and the Ukraine war.
Speaking in an interview with Russian state broadcaster VGTRK in Moscow, Putin said he would instruct the government and major energy companies to study the feasibility of suspending exports to Europe if demand from alternative markets proves more profitable.
Putin noted that European authorities are preparing further restrictions on Russian energy imports, including a planned ban on purchasing Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the coming years.
According to him, the European Union is expected to introduce new restrictions on Russian gas purchases starting this year, with additional steps that could lead to a complete ban by 2027.
“They are already planning to phase out Russian energy supplies. If other markets are opening up and offering better conditions, it may make sense for us to focus on those markets instead,” he said.
Russia has historically been one of Europe’s largest suppliers of natural gas and oil. However, since the outbreak of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU has sought to reduce its dependence on Russian energy by turning to suppliers in the United States, the Middle East and Norway.
Putin said growing demand in Asia, particularly from countries such as China and India, could provide alternative outlets for Russian energy exports. Moscow has already expanded pipeline and LNG shipments to Asian markets in recent years.
He insisted that Russia remains a reliable energy supplier and would continue cooperating with partners willing to maintain long-term contracts, including countries such as Hungary and Slovakia.
Putin also condemned a recent attack on a Russian LNG tanker in the Mediterranean Sea near Malta, which Moscow blamed on Ukrainian unmanned boats. He described the incident as a “terrorist act” and warned that threats to energy infrastructure could further disrupt global energy markets.
The Russian leader also alleged that Ukraine, with backing from Western intelligence services, could attempt sabotage operations against key pipelines such as the Blue Stream and TurkStream, though no independent confirmation of those claims has been provided.
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