TOKYO Feb 4Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Koichi Hagiuda, in response to a request for comment on reports of ongoing negotiations between the US and the EU and Asian countries on the possibility of increasing gas supplies to Europe in the event of an escalation in Ukraine, reiterated that Tokyo would like to explore the possibility of assistance, but not to the detriment of the population of the country.» This winter is expected to be cold, so it is necessary to ensure energy reserves, including electricity. After we secure volumes that will not have any impact on people's lives, we think to study, what could be done,» the minister stressed. Earlier in January, a senior US administration official told reporters that the United States was looking for alternative sources of natural gas for Europe in the event that Russian transit through Ukraine was cut off and considered interruptions in exports via other routes a less likely scenario. Later, the newspaper The Wall Street Journal released an information There are reports that more than 20 gas tankers are already heading from the US to Europe amid attempts by the EU and Washington to find an alternative to Russian fuel. According to people familiar with the publication, representatives of the administration of US President Joe Biden held video calls with officials around the world, trying to convince buyers in South Korea, Japan and other countries who have already paid for their supplies, to allow the US to redirect them to Europe. It is also reported that European officials are planning or have already made trips to Doha and Baku to try to arrange supplies. The Kremlin says that Russia has always impeccably fulfilled its contractual obligations to supply gas to Europe, has never given reason to doubt its reliability. Plans attributed to Russia to escalate the situation around Ukraine are categorically denied in Moscow and constantly stated that they are not threatening anyone and are not going to attack anyone, and all such statements are used as an excuse to place more NATO military equipment near Russian borders.
Ukraine explained the importance of gas purchases from Russia
