Liquefied natural gas tanker in the Japanese port of YokohamaTOKYO Feb 9The Japanese authorities are ready to organize the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to European countries in case the situation around Ukraine escalates, the Kyodo news agency reported, citing sources in government circles. An official statement is expected to be made on this issue later on Wednesday. deliveries, in particular volumes and terms, are unknown. It is also not reported whether Japan will use LNG from reserves for supplies, or will redirect part of the volumes it purchases from third countries. and Asian countries regarding the possibility of increasing gas supplies to Europe in the event of an escalation of the situation in Ukraine, reiterated that Tokyo would like to explore the possibility of assistance, but will proceed from the fact that the actions «do not affect the lives of citizens.» Earlier in January, a senior US administration official said journalists that the United States is looking for alternative sources of natural gas for Europe in the event that Russian transit through Ukraine is interrupted and considers interruptions in exports via other routes as a less likely scenario. He expressed confidence that the United States would be able to meet the needs of Europe through alternative sources during the rest of the spring and winter. Later, the Wall Street Journal published information that more than 20 gas tankers were already heading from the United States to Europe amid attempts by the EU and Washington to find an alternative to the Russian fuel. According to people familiar with the publication, officials in the administration of US President Joe Biden have made video calls with officials around the world over the past few days, 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.
The Italian Foreign Minister called Russia indispensable for gas supplies to Europe
