Khaberni - The Kremlin said on Friday that the European Union is harming its interests by sticking to a plan to cease importing Russian liquefied natural gas by the end of the year, confirming that Russia will turn to new markets to dispose of this gas and other energy exports.
According to Reuters, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, had earlier stated that the European Union is committed to its "clear goals" regarding the cessation of importing Russian liquefied natural gas, rejecting the idea of reconsidering the plan despite rising energy costs as a result of the war in the Middle East.
In response to a question about von der Leyen's statements, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is capable of finding alternative buyers for its energy products.
He added: "Russia must do what best serves its interests, and it will do so. If alternative markets, especially emerging markets that desperately need energy resources from gas, liquefied natural gas, and petroleum and petroleum products, prove more attractive, there will naturally be a complete focus on them."
Peskov continued, saying: "Europeans continue to harm themselves, or rather, harm their voters."
Europe depended on Russia for more than 40% of its gas needs before the war in Ukraine erupted, but the total imports of gas from Russia to the European Union, whether through pipelines or as liquefied natural gas, fell to just about 13% during the year 2025.
The European Union intends to cease importing Russian liquefied natural gas by the end of 2026, with a plan to terminate pipeline gas imports by September 30, 2027.
Russian gas exports to Europe via pipelines decreased by 44% during the year 2025, recording the lowest levels since the mid-1970s.
Russian pipeline gas exports to Europe peaked in 2018 and 2019, when they exceeded between 175 and 180 billion cubic meters annually, injecting tens of billions of dollars into the coffers of Gazprom and the Russian state, which owns a controlling stake in it.
