Putin hinted that he might stop supplying gas to Europe himself right now
Russian President Vladimir Putin has allowed for the possibility of stopping Russian gas supplies to Europe, without waiting for the introduction of new restrictions by the European Union, The Moscow Times reports .
Vladimir Putin. Photo: Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
Answering a question from propagandist Pavel Zarubin, Putin noted the rise in gas prices in Europe and stated that this is not due to a reduction in supply volumes, but to an increase in the number of buyers in other regions against the backdrop of the crisis in the Middle East.
According to Putin, if more profitable markets emerge, suppliers naturally reorient themselves to where they pay more.
In this context, he mentioned the European Union's plans to gradually restrict the import of Russian gas. The directives issued by the EU envisage a ban on liquefied natural gas supplies under short-term contracts from April 2026 and under long-term contracts from the beginning of 2027. A complete cancellation of pipeline gas imports from Russia is also planned from 2027.
Putin noted that if supplies are going to be banned anyway in the near future, then, in his opinion, Russia should perhaps stop them independently and redirect exports to countries considered reliable partners.
He added that this is just a thought, and reported giving instructions to the government to work on the issue of reorienting supplies to other markets.
According to analytical data, in 2025, the share of Russian gas in the total EU imports was about 12%. The largest gas suppliers to the European Union remain Norway, the USA, and Algeria. Earlier, the EU Council approved a plan for a phased отказа from Russian gas imports, which should be completed by 2028.
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