Kremlin: EU weakens itself by turning away from Russian gas

The Kremlin has warned that the European Union could be undermining its own economic strength by planning to fully stop importing Russian gas within the next two years. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, Europe risks relying on costlier energy alternatives and weakening the competitiveness of its industries.

"This trend, visible over the past several years, will only speed up the decline of Europes economic leadership," Peskov stated, as reported by the state news agency TASS.

In response to Russia's military actions in Ukraine, EU governments and the European Parliament have decided to end all imports of Russian gas, including liquefied natural gas, by 2027. For decades, Russia has benefited from a stable and profitable market in Europe.

Russias pivot toward China as a primary gas buyer is proving more challenging than expected. Gazprom, the Russian energy giant, reported a record volume of gas delivered to China via the Sila Sibiri (Strength of Siberia) pipeline on Tuesday. Nevertheless, the planned second line of the pipeline has been delayed due to disagreements over the gas price.

Author: Lucas Grant