Kremlin Guarantees Gas Supplies to Europe
3 Min Read
The Kremlin affirmed that Russia would continue to engage in gas trade to Europe, despite Belarus' threats to cut off the gas supply.
-
Russia assures the EU to continue delivering gas despite Belarus pipeline threats.
Russia dismissed a threat by Belarus to stop Russian gas supplies to Europe on Friday, calming European gas markets and thwarting President Alexander Lukashenko's attempt to deepen his battle with Europe.
European politicians accuse Lukashenko of creating a migrant crisis on Belarus EU border in retribution for sanctions, which Belarus denies. Lukashenko's behavior has hardened Europe's stance, and further measures are being considered.
Lukashenko Russian ally backed the Belarusian leader, but the Kremlin's rejection of his threat to cut Russian gas supplies that are transiting Belarusian territory to Europe was translated as a limit to the degree of Moscow's support.
Russia will honor the gas trade
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would honor its obligations to Europe on gas regardless of what Minsk might do.
“Russia has been, is, and will be a country that honors every obligation on gas supply to European consumers, as well as contractual obligations,” Peskov said. “Russia’s reliability as a supplier and a partner under current and future contracts is beyond doubt.”
Peskov stated that the Belarusian leader did not consult Moscow before he released a statement, although Putin engaged in regular talks with Lukashenko.
“No, they [Lukashenko’s statements] are not coordinated in any way. Yes, he is our ally, but it’s a sovereign state,” Peskov said.
European leaders dispute Lukashenko's legitimacy, refusing to engage with him and opposing the presidential election slated for August 2020.
Putin meets with Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel wrote to Putin twice this week, pleading with him to use his clout with Belarus president to resolve the border dispute.
Putin retorted that EU leaders must engage Minsk directly. Russia claims it has no involvement in the migration catastrophe occurring on the Belarus-Poland border.
With an increasing number of migrants stranded in frigid circumstances in a forest near the Belarus-Poland border, the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority said on Friday that it would prohibit people of Iraq, Syria, and Yemen from traveling to Belarus due to the problem.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen had previously warned of possible EU fines against third-country airlines that aid migration.
“Due to the problem of illegal border crossings between the European Union and Belarus, it has been decided that the citizens of Iraq, Syria, and Yemen who want to travel to Belarus from Turkish airports will not be allowed to buy tickets and boarding until further notice,” a statement from the Turkish aviation authority said Friday, offering refunds.
