During an economic forum in Vladivostok, the Russian leader blasted a decision that would be “absolutely stupid”.
Russia will no longer deliver oil or gas to countries that cap the price of hydrocarbons sold by Moscow, President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday, as Westerners work on such a measure. Cap prices “would be an absolutely stupid decision“, he launched during an economic forum in Vladivostok (Russian Far East). “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.
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«We will not supply anything outside the scope of the contracts“Signed with importing countries, Vladimir Putin again affirmed in front of Russian and Asian economic leaders. “But those who try to impose something on us are not in a position today to dictate their will to us.“, did he declare. The Russian leader called on European countries to “return to reason“, at a time when voices are rising in the West to accuse Russia of using energy as a “armedin retaliation for sanctions related to the Russian military intervention in Ukraine. Charges dismissed Wednesday by Vladimir Putin: “Another nonsense!“, he launched.
“Many solutions”
According to the Russian president, Europeans, faced with soaring prices, “have several solutions: either subsidize high (energy) 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“, he argued. “It is impossible to interfere with objective economic laws. Otherwise it will come back to you like a boomerang“, he warned.