Borrell says Europe has the ability to replace Russian gas

Europe has the capacity to replace gas from Russia, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said during a visit to Chile on Thursday (28th) following Russian state energy giant Gazprom’s fuel cut in Poland on Wednesday. Bulgaria.

The interruption of supplies to both countries has fueled concerns about fuel shortages in continental Europe after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that he would not accept payments for gas other than the Russian currency, the ruble, in response to the West’s economic sanctions on Moscow.

“We have the ability to replenish gas stocks and distribute them among us, because it’s not just a one-way street. Within the European grid, gas can circulate from one country to another,” Borrell said at a press conference. Santiago pays an official visit.

“All member states are united in a solidarity response, what happens to Poland and Bulgaria also happens to the Union as a whole,” he recalled.

On the second day of his visit to Chile, Borrell announced that the gas contracts with Russia were strictly fulfilled “on the stipulated terms”, according to the “European Commission guidelines”.

“When you are told you have to pay in euros and dollars, it will be paid in euros and dollars. Naturally, Russia will do everything in its power to make these payments in such a way as to get us into trouble. The game.” said.

Borrell also said that although Europe has not largely decided to halt gas purchases from Russia, “this does not mean that[this measure]will not be reconsidered, given events and how it has developed.”

According to Borrell, Western economic sanctions have “greatly weakened the Russian economy”, but admitted that it “has no miraculous ability to immediately stop, on the contrary, intensifying Russian attacks.”

The head of European diplomacy said that “the EU will continue to assist Ukraine militarily”.

“We are doing nothing but helping to defend a country that has been attacked for no reason,” said the head of European diplomacy, who met with Chilean President Gabriel Boric on Wednesday. said.