Russia tells the European Union: Halting gas imports harms your interests... We will turn to new markets
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said earlier: “The EU is committed to its clear objectives regarding halting imports of Russian liquefied natural gas, and rejected the idea that the bloc might reconsider the plan because of rising energy costs due to the war in the Middle East.”.
Finding buyers
In response to a question about von der Leyen's remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "Russia can find other buyers.".
He added: “Russia must act in its own best interests, and it will. If alternative markets—the new, emerging markets that desperately need energy resources like gas, LNG, oil, and petroleum products—prove to be more attractive, then of course, there will be a full focus on them.” He continued: “The Europeans continue to harm themselves, or rather, their voters.”.
Import stop
Europe was buying more than 40% of its gas needs from Russia before the invasion of Ukraine, but total sales of pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas from Russia accounted for only 13% of total EU imports in 2025.
The European Union plans to stop importing Russian liquefied natural gas by the end of 2026 and gas via pipelines by September 30, 2027, but President Vladimir Putin indicated earlier this month that Russia might preempt this by cutting those exports now.
