Putin: Energy prices are nearing economically justified levels, Russia is meeting its commitments

Energy prices are nearing economically justified levels, Russian President Vladimir Putin said today at a summit of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), according to Reuters. Russia continues to meet its energy supply commitments, he said. The EAEU comprises Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Putin said that Ukraine, which Russia invaded militarily last February, continues to receive payments for energy transit through its territory, despite calling Russia an aggressor. He also said that Russia is reducing the share of so-called hostile currencies used for payments.

The Russian president also raised the issue of energy shortages in Europe at the conference. „Now, thank God, energy prices are nearing economically justified levels, but who is responsible for what happened?“ Putin said. „They blew up Nord Stream 1 and did not launch Nord Stream 2,“ he added, referring to the pair of pipelines running from Russia across the Baltic Sea to Germany, which were severely damaged by explosions last September.