Russia should diversify energy exports towards Asia, says Putin
(VOVWORLD) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called for diversification of energy exports towards Asia, while accusing European countries of destabilizing the market by moving to cut out Russian deliveries.
 Russia’s gas production system (Photo: TASS/ VNA) |
At a televised government meeting on Thursday, Mr. Putin said as Western countries have announced measures to ban or reduce the use of Russian oil, gas and coal due to Moscow's military operation in Ukraine, Russia should continue the direction it has taken in recent years and "step by step shift the direction of the exports to the fast-growing markets of the south and east".
Putin criticized European countries for moves to stop using Russian energy, adding that attempts by Western countries to push out Russian suppliers and replace Russia’s energy resources with alternative deliveries will inevitably affect the whole global economy.
He also stressed the need for Russia to build infrastructure to boost its energy supplies to Asia.