French President Emmanuel Macron said he had no evidence that Russia was allegedly manipulating energy prices.

He also stressed that he is not blaming anyone.

He also said, answering a question about the influence that Gazprom has in Europe, that "it is not about the presence or absence of excessive dependence on a particular company."

“The question is how to create alternatives.

And the only alternatives here are renewable energy sources in Europe and, of course, European nuclear energy, ”Macron said in an interview with the Financial Times.

At the same time, he does not believe that prices can be reduced with the existing demand load.

However, according to him, on the eve of winter, it is important to avoid disruption of supplies and further price increases.

“In the weeks and months ahead, we need to achieve better visibility and price stability so that tensions over energy prices do not create uncertainty and undermine the global economic recovery,” Macron said.

Meanwhile, the head of the operator of the Ukrainian gas transportation system, Serhiy Makogon, believes that the rise in gas prices in Europe was caused by the activities of Gazprom, which allegedly abuses its dominant position, creating an energy crisis.

It should be noted that on the eve of "Gazprom" extended for five years the contract with Moldova on the supply of blue fuel, pumping of which will begin on November 1.

According to the company's press release, the contract has been prolonged "on mutually beneficial terms."

According to the Moldovan Ministry of Infrastructure, during the negotiations with the Russian side, the formula for calculating the gas price was approved, as well as the procedure for auditing the debt that was accumulated by the Moldovagaz company.

As the vice-premier of the republic, Andrei Spinu, specified on his page in the Facеbook, Chisinau will buy Russian gas at about $ 450 per 1,000 cubic meters.

At the same time, the market price for gas in Europe is about $ 800 per 1,000 cubic meters.

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Russian position

Let us remind you that Moscow has repeatedly denied accusations of provoking an energy crisis in Europe.

On October 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with members of the government, said that the Russian Federation is not interested in "the endless rise in prices for energy resources, including gas."

“Nevertheless, what is happening is happening against our will.

These are all largely hand-made things that were made by our colleagues, including in Europe.

But for us, too, there may be certain consequences, "the Russian leader noted, explaining that we are talking, in particular, about the upcoming rise in prices for fertilizers produced on the basis of blue fuel, as well as a possible increase in the cost of food products in the Russian Federation.

Putin recalled that the reasons for the gas crisis in Europe lie, among other things, in the reduction of coal and nuclear power generation, "a rather tough winter last year" and a lack of wind generation.

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“All this has led to shortages and under-pumping of gas to underground storage facilities.

And this causes nervousness in the market, ”the Russian president explained.

On October 27, Putin recalled that the prices of spot, short-term contracts in Europe are still high, and the level of gas reserves in underground storage facilities is significantly lower than the average for the last five years.

“This is a decrease in own gas production in Europe, a decrease in LNG supplies to European markets, primarily from the United States of America, they have removed a significant amount from the European market.

By the way, Gazprom made up for them, even delivered more, ”the Russian President noted.

He also stressed that Gazprom is in full compliance with long-term agreements with European countries.

In addition, as the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova wrote on October 29 on her Telegram channel, the EU "knows very well" that Russia uses gas "not for blackmail, but for mutually beneficial cooperation."

"We decided to try their luck"

For their part, experts note that the French President has become one of the few Western politicians who objectively assess the situation in the European energy market.

"The French leader, unlike most heads of EU countries, can afford to tell the truth about the role of the Russian Federation in the European energy market," Nikolai Mezhevich, chief researcher at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said in an interview with RT.

He also drew attention to the fact that, despite the explanations of Moscow and the theses of Paris, Kiev still continues to accuse Russia of unleashing the European gas crisis.

According to him, the Kiev authorities cannot publicly admit that Brussels made a strategic miscalculation in the transition from contract prices, refusing to analyze the situation in the world in connection with the pandemic, its negative impact on the economy and other factors.

“Even after the prices for gas and electricity began to rise sharply, the EU did not draw the necessary conclusions.

But European officials, of course, do not want to admit their mistakes.

And Kiev, which has decided to follow the example of Europe in the gas issue, does not intend to disclose the truth either: after all, much more political points can be earned on accusations against Russia.

So you can mask your own failures, ”the expert explained.

In turn, the director of the Institute of National Energy Serhiy Pravosudov, in a conversation with RT, recalled that the gas issue for Ukraine is a traditional topic for attacks on Russia.

At the same time, he draws attention to the fact that the Ukrainian side does not say that it was Europe that liberalized its market, as a result of which European exchanges began to compete in gas prices with Asian ones.

“But no sane person, let alone a producer or buyer of gas, will take the risk, knowing latently that prices can differ tenfold.

But the European countries decided to try their luck, ”the expert said.

According to Pravosudov, in this situation, Gazprom is increasing supplies, but due to the conjuncture of the European gas market, this cannot sharply bring down the gas price.

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According to Pravosudov, the outcome of the energy crisis in Europe will largely depend on the weather conditions in winter.

“If these months are abnormally warm, then the energy problems of European countries will gradually come to naught, one should not expect gas price hikes.

But if the winter is abnormally cold, the gas market will be in a fever even more, ”the expert concluded.