Moscow, Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia could consider stopping gas supplies to European markets and shifting to other markets, while EU officials said the European Commission will propose a permanent ban on Russian oil imports on April 15.
Putin comments on gas supplies
Putin told Russian state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin that other markets are opening up and that it might be more profitable for Russia to stop supplying the European market and move into those markets to establish itself there.
He said it was not a decision but “thinking out loud,” and added that he would instruct the government to work on the issue together with Russian companies.
EU oil import proposal timing
EU officials and a document seen by Reuters said the European Commission will submit a legal proposal to permanently ban Russian oil imports on April 15, three days after Hungary’s parliamentary election.
Reliability of energy supplies
Putin reiterated that Russia has always been a reliable energy supplier and said it would continue to work in this manner with partners it considers reliable, including Slovakia and Hungary.
How could a potential halt in Russian gas supplies affect European energy markets?