Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning to the European Union, claiming that its gradual reduction of Russian gas imports is already producing serious negative consequences for its own economy.
Speaking during a meeting with Andrey Guryev, head of the Russian Fertilizer Producers Association, Putin highlighted that entire sectors of the European economy are beginning to falter due to energy shortages.
“The petrochemical industry has nearly come to a halt,” said Guryev during the discussion.
“There’s more,” Putin added. “Glass production as well. There’s an entire chain of negative consequences,” he emphasized.
Putin’s comments come amid the European Commission’s continued push to eliminate dependency on Russian gas, as part of efforts to diversify energy sources following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In recent years, EU countries have imposed significant restrictions on Russian energy imports, prompting them to turn to more expensive alternatives—particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States.
Moscow views the shift as self-destructive for Europe, while Brussels frames it as a necessary move for energy independence and geopolitical security.
