President Zelensky: Russia considers not only gas but any trade as weapon

Russia considers not only gas but any trade as a weapon. The sooner Europe admits that it is inadmissible to depend on Russia in trade, the sooner it will be possible to guarantee stability in European markets.

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his video address, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“This week, Russia’s leadership launched a new series of energy blackmail of Europeans. The decision to cut off gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria is another argument in favor of the fact that no one in Europe can hope to maintain any normal economic cooperation with Russia. Russia considers not only gas but any trade as a weapon. It is just waiting for the moment when one or another trade area can be used. To blackmail Europeans politically. Or to strengthen Russia’s military machine, which sees a united Europe as a target,” Zelensky noted.

A reminder that, on April 1, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a special decree for ‘unfriendly countries’ to make them pay for natural gas in rubles only.

On April 27, 2022, Russia’s Gazprom halted gas supplies to Bulgaria’s Bulgargaz and Poland’s PGNiG over their refusal to pay for natural gas in rubles.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

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