Putin warns the West will ‘keep freezing’ if energy price caps are imposed – and Russia will stop all gas and oil supplies
- Putin said Western attempts to cap prices for Russian oil and gas were ‘stupid’
- The Russian leader, 69, warned EU leaders that Russia would walk away from supply contract of EU imposed price caps on the country’s exports of gas and oil
- If gas and energy supplies stopped, there would be devastating consequences
Russian President Vladimir Putin today said Russia will cut off energy supplies if price caps are imposed Russia’s oil and gas exports, warning the West that it would be ‘frozen’ like a wolf’s tail in a famous Russian fairy tale.
Putin told at an annual economic forum in the far-eastern port city of Vladivostok that European calls for a price cap on Russian gas were ‘stupid’, and would lead to higher global prices and economic problems in Europe.
The G7 leaders announced plans to impose a price cap on Russian oil exports last week in a move that could also restrict Russia’s ability to secure tankers and insurance from countries beyond the Group of Seven.
The Russian leader, 69, warned the leaders that Russia would walk away from its supply contracts if the West imposed price caps on the country’s exports, adding that Moscow will have enough customers in Asia.
‘We will not supply anything at all if it is contrary to our interests, in this case economic (interests),’ Putin said. ‘No gas, no oil, no coal, no fuel oil, nothing.’
He added: ‘We would only have one thing left to do: as in the famous Russian fairy tale, we would sentence the wolf’s tail to be frozen.’
He added: ‘We won’t do anything imposed on us. And we will just repeat: “Keep freezing”.’
Russia is the world’s second largest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia, the world’s top natural gas and wheat exporter. Europe usually imports about 40 per cent of its gas and 30 per cent of its oil from Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia will stop oil and gas supplies if price caps are imposed
If Putin does stop oil and gas supplies from reaching Europe completely, this would have devastating consequences for ordinary people as it would increase already eye-watering energy prices.
Natural gas provided by Russia powers Europe’s factories, generates electricity and heats homes.
‘The demand is so high on global markets that we won’t have any problem selling it,’ Putin said.
‘An attempt to limit prices by administrative means is just ravings, it’s sheer nonsense,’ Putin added. ‘It will only lead to a hike in prices.’
He rejected the EU’s argument that Russia was using energy as a weapon by suspending gas supplies via the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline to Germany.
Putin told at an annual economic forum in the far-eastern port city of Vladivostok that European calls for a price cap on Russian gas were ‘stupid’, and would lead to higher global prices and economic problems in Europe
The Russian leader, 69, (left with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan) warned the leaders that Russia would walk away from its supply contracts if the West imposed price caps on the country’s exports, adding that Moscow will have enough customers in Asia
Putin said Germany and Western countries themselves were to blame for the Nord Stream 1 pipeline not being operational and that Ukraine and Poland decided on their own to switch off other gas routes into Europe.
Europe is facing a winter fuel crisis and surging energy bills after Gazprom fully suspended gas supplied through Nord Stream 1, after it said it found an engine oil leak during maintenance work.
‘Nord Steam 1 is practically closed now,’ Putin said as he called Germany to return a turbine for the pipeline’s Portovaya compressor station that would allow Russia to resume pumping gas.
‘There is an oil leak there – it’s a possibly explosive situation, a fire hazard. The turbine cannot work. Give us a turbine and we will turn on Nord Stream 1 tomorrow. But they don’t give us anything,’ he said.
But Putin said Moscow was ready to turn back on the crucial Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline to Germany as soon as a key turbine was returned to Russia from repairs.
This is a breaking news story, more to follow…