Russian President, Vladimir Putin has warned of possible retaliation against Europe after reports that the European Union is preparing additional restrictions on Russian liquefied natural gas and energy supplies.
Speaking in a televised broadcast in Moscow on Monday, Putin said Russia may consider halting energy exports to the European market if restrictions are imposed.
“EU countries plan to impose additional restrictions on Russian LNG and energy,” Putin said.
“I have instructed the government to evaluate the possibility of stopping energy supplies to the European market, without waiting for the door to be shut in our face.”
Putin’s comments came hours after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged the European Union to suspend sanctions on Russian oil and gas to counter prices sent soaring by the war in the Middle East.
Recall that the European Union had banned maritime imports of Russian crude in 2022, while Russia’s pipeline exports to Hungary and Slovakia have been effectively halted since January due to damage to the Druzhba oil pipeline via Ukraine.
