Vladimir Putin proposes to increase Russian gas exports to Europe

Russian President Vladimir Putin during Russian Energy Week in Moscow on October 13, 2021. AP - Mikhail Metzel

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In Russia, Vladimir Putin reacted, this Wednesday, October 13, to the rise in gas prices in Europe by proposing an increase in Russian gas exports.

These statements come after several days of criticism from Moscow on the energy policy of the European Union.

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With our correspondent in Moscow,

It had already been several days since Vladimir Putin had been making numerous statements to comment on the rise in gas prices in Europe.

The Russian president finally declared on Wednesday afternoon that he would agree to increase his gas exports to the West.

Russia supplies more than a third of the gas needs of European states.

For several days,

drawing on its resources to stabilize the market.

But the head of the Kremlin would first of all like the Europeans to learn a lesson.

He insists that the European Union is, according to him, the only one responsible for this crisis.

It would not have known how to protect itself from price increases by refraining from concluding long-term contracts with Moscow.

The Europeans would have made the " 

 " of "

 ", in his words.

The reason is obviously geopolitical, the question of the energy dependence of the European Union vis-à-vis Russia reappears with each friction between the union and the Kremlin.

Moscow, which defines itself as a stable partner and sweeps away all responsibility in the soaring prices, therefore intends to impose its conditions.

According to the Minister of Energy Nikolai Choulguinov, a helping hand from Russia will necessarily have to go through new contractual conditions.

►Also read: The British are suffering a sharp rise in the price of gas after supplier bankruptcies

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