During a meeting with members of the government, Vladimir Putin spoke about "hysteria and confusion" on the European fuel markets.

According to the Russian leader, this is due, in particular, to speculations on climate problems.

“You see what is happening in Europe, there is hysteria and some kind of confusion in the markets.

Why?

Because no one takes it seriously, someone speculates on the problems of climate change, someone underestimates something, someone starts to cut investments in the extractive industries, ”Putin said.

The President stressed that Russia has every opportunity to avoid such mistakes.

“We see what certain unbalanced decisions, unbalanced development and sudden shuffles lead to.

Today it is clearly visible on the European energy market, ”he added.

  • Putin on the situation on the European energy market

Speaking about the energy sector, Putin also named the development of green energy as one of the priorities for Russia.

According to the president, the Russian power generation structure has already taken a leading position in the world here.

He noted that the share of energy from nuclear power plants, hydroelectric power plants, wind and solar power plants in Russia exceeds 37%.

"And such competitive technological advantages must, of course, be used, to increase the pace of implementation of projects in the nuclear power industry, to actively develop small hydroelectric power plants, the possibility of ebb and flow - now this is being actively discussed in the world," Putin said.

The head of state expressed confidence that Russia "has something to work on here, there are even certain competitive advantages."

Gas prices in Europe

According to the latest data, the exchange prices for gas in Europe exceeded $ 1400 per 1,000 cubic meters.

During the trades, the price surpassed the historical maximum with a mark of $ 1455 per 1,000 cubic meters.

The rise in gas prices has already caused the shutdown of a number of European enterprises.

Experts say the reason for the price jump is an acute shortage of fuel in European storage facilities.

According to the Association for Gas Infrastructure of Europe (GIE), the storage capacity of the EU countries and the UK is a little over 75% in total, while a year ago the corresponding figure was about 95%.

In addition, experts note that against the background of rising energy prices, Europe has to abandon previous plans to switch to green energy and more actively use oil and coal.

The growing demand for these resources leads to their rise in price.

Also on russian.rt.com "There are no signs of improvement in the situation": the cost of gas in Europe for the first time exceeded $ 1400 per thousand cubic meters

Coronavirus situation 

During the meeting, the current situation with the incidence of coronavirus in Russia was also discussed.

The President spoke about his personal experience of contact with the sick and expressed the hope that he would not get sick with COVID-19 in the future.

“You know that I talked with infected people, sick employees, and, thank God, it got through, as they say.

Didn't get sick.

For now, anyway.

And I hope this will not happen, ”the president said.

Recall that at the end of September, the head of state withdrew from a two-week self-isolation.

The reason for compliance with this regime was the fact of infection with COVID-19 in the environment of the president.

During the meeting, Putin turned to the head of Rospotrebnadzor, Anna Popova, with the question of whether the Sputnik V vaccine, which the head of state had previously inoculated, played a role in this situation.

“I am absolutely sure that the vaccine with which you were vaccinated, and this is Sputnik V, certainly played a role.

I think this is the main and significant thing that protects you from infections, given that the immune response was very high, "- said the chief sanitary doctor of the Russian Federation.

The President announced the second coronavirus vaccination in April 2021.

In June, during the annual direct line, Putin clarified that he had chosen the drug Sputnik V.

He noted that he was previously asked not to name the vaccine of his choice in order to avoid competition between the drugs.

However, Putin said, there were "really a lot of questions about the vaccine he chose."

Also on russian.rt.com "The reason is the insufficient level of vaccination": the Kremlin assessed the situation with COVID-19 in Russia

During today's meeting, the President added that it is now very important that revaccination of the population takes place on time.

“This moment must not be missed, otherwise the situation may develop the way it is in my environment.

The next vaccination was not done in time - and this is the result.

True, I want to tell you again: everyone who got sick got sick very easily, ”he explained.