Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia is ready to supply gas to Europe in the amount stipulated by the contracts, but if the European Union twists its arm and refuses to supply the serviced turbines of the Nord Stream gas pipeline or the launch of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, they will not receive the desired volumes.
Medvedev told the French channel LCI: “We have never refused gas supplies to Europe. We built the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, and we fulfilled all our obligations, but refused and said that we did not need Russian gas, and that they would not be able to pay “in euros and dollars, since they stopped corresponding with our banks. Then we decided that the only way for us is to use the ruble as a means of payment. This is, that is, these are the results of the sanctions war unleashed by the West. Yes, we are now ready to supply gas in the contracted volumes.”
“If they twist our hand, if they block the payment, if they refuse to supply repaired turbines or launch Nord Stream 2, it is likely that the volumes of gas supplies will not be in the volumes that Western countries want.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier that if the turbines of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline are not returned to Russia, only 30 million cubic meters per day can be pumped along the route instead of 60 million cubic meters, and indicated that at the end of this month another “turbine” will be sent for maintenance.
Russian gas giant Gazprom has previously said that the sanctions imposed by Canada, the UK and the European Union, as well as the inconsistency of the current situation with Siemens obligations, make it impossible to supply turbines to the Nord Stream gas pipeline.
On July 25, the Russian company Gazprom announced the termination of operation of another turbine for Siemens at the Portovaya NS, which is an important facility for the project, noting that the reduction in gas volumes pumped through the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline will amount to 33 million cubic meters. . m per day; This is due to the need to send the turbine for scheduled repairs in accordance with the instructions of Rostekhnadzor of Russia, as well as taking into account the technical condition of the engine and the need to comply with safety regulations.
