Putin threatens EU with gas embargo: Kremlin plans
Putin is using the crisis in the Middle East to force the European Union to abandon plans to restrict Russian fuel.
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Russian president Vladimir Putin / © Associated Press / © Associated Press
Russian president Vladimir Putin is using the conflict in Iran to pressure the European Union to revise plans to phase out Russian fuel. He has threatened to stop gas supplies to Europe before new sanctions come into effect, according to the Russian news outlet Agentstvo.Novosti.
Gas blackmail amid Middle East conflict
Putin said the EU plans to limit gas imports from Russia in the near future and fully ban them by 2027. Moscow is reportedly considering shutting off supplies independently to redirect resources to new markets opening up due to the Middle East crisis. Putin also expressed confidence that American companies will leave the European market and move to regions offering higher returns.
«Perhaps it is more profitable for us to halt deliveries to the European market now, go to emerging markets, and establish a presence there, ” he said.
Decline of Russia’s gas influence
The Kremlin chief described his threats as «thoughts aloud, ” but pledged to task the Russian government and energy companies with examining the issue. Analysts say Russia remains keen on the European market, which offered higher prices than China.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s share of European pipeline gas imports has fallen from 40% in 2021 to 6% in 2025. Russia now ranks fourth among suppliers, behind Norway, the United States, and North African countries.