Vladimir Putin says Russia ready to help Europe with oil and gas if there is no political pressure.

Moscow (The Uttam Hindu): Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is willing to supply oil and gas to buyers in Europe if the cooperation is long-term and free from political pressure. His remarks come at a time when global oil prices have surged following recent tensions in the Middle East after strikes involving the United States and Israel against Iran. Reports indicate that crude oil prices have crossed $100 per barrel for the first time since the start of the Russia–Ukraine War in 2022.

Putin said Russia is prepared to continue supplying energy to its reliable partners in Asia and also to European Union members such as Hungary and Slovakia. He stated that if European companies and buyers are ready for stable and long-term cooperation without political conditions, Russia is willing to move forward and has never refused to work with them.

He also emphasized that Moscow needs clear signals from European nations about their willingness to maintain consistent cooperation. The European Union had banned seaborne imports of Russian crude oil in 2022, and supplies through the Druzhba Pipeline have been severely affected due to damage along the route passing through Ukraine. Putin’s comments came shortly after Viktor Orbán urged the EU to reconsider sanctions on Russian oil and gas amid rising oil prices and growing tensions in the Middle East.