The president of the European Commission proposed this measure to the member states on Wednesday. “If European countries want to give up their competitive advantages, it is up to them to decide,” replied the Russian president, while defending themselves to use these deliveries as a “weapon”.
Le Monde with AFP
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, threatened, Wednesday, September 7, to stop any delivery of hydrocarbons in the event of a price ceiling, while defending himself from using energy as a “weapon” in the face of the Europe that fears shortages.
Last week, the G7 countries indicated that they wanted to implement “urgently” a cap in the price of Russian oil, encouraging a “large coalition” of countries to participate, in retaliation against the offensive carried out in Ukraine.
During an economic forum in Vladivostok (Russian Far East) Wednesday, Vladimir Putin wanted to be clear: Russia will no longer deliver oil or gas to countries that would cap the prices of hydrocarbons sold by Moscow. Cap prices of Russian hydrocarbons would be “an absolutely stupid decision”, “stupidity”, launched Mr. Putin.
“If European countries want to give up their competitive advantages, it’s up to them to decide,” he warned. But “we will not deliver anything at all if it is contrary to our interests, in this case economic. Neither gas, nor oil, nor coal (…). Nothing,” he added, the tone . “We will not provide anything outside the framework of contracts” signed with importing countries, said Mr. Putin still in several Russian and Asian economic leaders, castigating “those who try to dictate their own will”.
“Give us a turbine and we will restart Nord Stream”
It is in this context of showdown that Russia announced last week the closure of the valves of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which serves Germany and several European countries, invoking technical reasons. According to the Russian giant Gazprom, this prolonged interruption is due to the need to repair a turbine of the pipeline. This decision has strengthened the fears of European countries from a total Russian gas cut towards the continent when approaching winter and against the backdrop of rampant inflation of energy prices.
Wednesday, Mr. Putin called on European countries to “come back to reason”, at a time when voices rise in the West to accuse Russia to use its gas as a means of pressure in the context of the conflict in Ukraine. Accusations swept by the Russian president: “They say that Russia uses energy as a weapon. Another nonsense!”, He launched.
Moscow defends himself in particular by arguing that the sanctions against him for his offensive in Ukraine caused a shortage of spare parts which threatens the integrity of Nord Stream. “Give us a turbine and tomorrow we will relaunch Nord Stream,” said Putin to Europeans. “We are ready to [resume exports] tomorrow. All you have to do is press a button,” he said, recalling that it was not Russia that had “imposed sanctions “.
Turkey accuses Westerners of” provocation “
According to the Russian president, the EU countries, faced with a surge in energy prices, “have several solutions: either subsidize (these) high prices, (…) or reduce consumption”. “From an economic point of view, it is correct. But from a social point of view, it is dangerous. It can cause an explosion,” he warned. “It is better to respect contractual obligations, civilized rules,” said Putin. “It is impossible to harm the” objective “economic laws. Otherwise it will come back to you as a boomerang.”
Western countries are guilty of “provocation” towards Russia, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Belgrade on Wednesday. “I can say very openly that I do not find that the current attitude of the West (…) is the right one. The West carries out a policy based on provocation,” said the Turkish Head of State During a press conference with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic, in response to a question about the energy crisis in Europe. “As long as you try to carry out such a war of provocation, you will not be able to obtain the expected results,” he added.