SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, Sept 16 (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin denied on Friday that Russia had anything to do with Europe’s energy crisis, saying if the European Union wanted more natural gas it would have to lift sanctions blocking the opening of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Speaking to reporters after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Uzbekistan, Putin blamed what he called a “green agenda” for the energy crisis and insisted Russia would meet its energy obligations. “The bottom line is, if you have an urge, if it’s so hard for you, just lift the sanctions on Nord Stream 2, which is 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, just press the button and everything will start.” Putin said. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up Nord Stream 2, which lies on the bottom of the Baltic Sea almost parallel to Nord Stream 1, was built a year ago, but Germany decided not to go ahead with it just days before Russia sent troops into Ukraine on February 24 . Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a press conference after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 16, 2022. Sputnik/Sergey Bobylev/Pool via REUTERS European gas prices have more than doubled since the start of the year amid falling Russian supplies. This year’s price hikes have squeezed already hard-pressed consumers and forced some industries to halt production. Europe has accused Russia of rigging energy supplies in retaliation for Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Russia says the West has waged an economic war and sanctions have hampered the operation of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. Russia has cut off gas supplies to several countries, including Bulgaria and Poland, because they refused to pay in rubles rather than the contract currency. Russian gas giant Gazprom ( GAZP.MM ) also said earlier this month that the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, Europe’s main supply route, would remain shut as a turbine at a compressor station leaked engine oil, sending natural gas prices soaring. wholesale gas soared. read more Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comSign up Report from Reuters. Editing by Kevin Liffey/Guy Faulconbridge Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
