MOSCOW, February 18Russia does not deny energy resources to anyone, and Turkey turned out to be the most reliable partner in the current situation, President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Pavel Zarubin, a fragment of which the journalist posted on the Telegram channel.
“»They said all the time — Russia does not give, Russia limits. We don’t limit anything! We give everything, please. The Turks turned out to be the most reliable partner. It comes through the Turkish Stream,” said the head of state.
European countries hoped that if they did not buy Russian gas, Russia would collapse. But irreversible processes have already begun in the European economy, the president noted. Thus, in his opinion, the current policy of the German authorities causes enormous damage to the future of the German economy.
Speaking about the possibility of Russian gas supplies to Germany in the light of problems with transit, the president recalled that one line goes through Ukraine, although the Kiev authorities have closed the second, there is also a route through Poland, and it would also be possible to begin deliveries along the preserved Nord Stream — 2″. In the latter case, the Russian leader emphasized, everything depends only on the German government — “the Germans just need to unscrew the valve.”
But let European countries decide for themselves whether to buy Russian gas or not, and Russia will do without them, Putin added.
“Of course, when we sold, we received more money, maybe it was more fun. But, on the other hand, the less we depend on energy, the better. Because our non-energy part of the economy is growing at a much faster pace than before. This But it’s always the case when you just receive money, then dependence arises, when you need to think, then other mechanisms kick in. They worked for us,” he concluded.
After the start of the Russian military special operation in Ukraine, Western countries increased sanctions pressure on Moscow . As Putin noted, the policy of containing and weakening Russia is a long-term strategy of the West, but the restrictions dealt a serious blow to the entire global economy. According to him, the main goal of the United States and its allies is to worsen the lives of millions of people. Nevertheless, Russia is coping with the pressure, and the West itself has more than once voiced opinions that these sanctions are ineffective.