Metsola tells Putin EU will not be blackmailed after Russia cuts gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola says the EU will not submit to blackmail and is not afraid of Russian President Vladimir Putin
27 April 2022, 5:46pm
Sebastian Vassallo
Sebastian Vassallo
2 min read
Roberta Metsola has hit back at Vladmir Putin’s decision to cut off the gas supply to Bulgaria and Poland after the latter refused to pay in roubles.
The President of the European Parliament tweeted on Wednesday that the EU will not kowtow to blackmail attempts from the Kremlin and that the EU stood ready to support Bulgaria and Poland.
Metsola also called for a pan-European ban on any and all Kremlin-controlled energy supplies. She stated: “It’s time to cut our dependencies on autocrats once and for all.”
This comes amid disagreements over the Kremlin's demands that payments for its gas supplies be made in roubles. Demands which the member states have refused on grounds that to do so would invalidate EU sanctions. In response, Russia has cut off the gas to these states. Reacting to this decision the Polish President accused Gazprom, Russia's state energy company, of violating “basic legal principles.”
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “We have around about 97% of all contracts that explicitly stipulate payments in euros or dollars, so it’s very clear. And the request from the Russian side to pay in roubles is a unilateral decision and not according to the contracts.”
As a backdrop to this are renewed warnings from Putin that any countries attempting to “interfere” in Ukraine will be faced with a swift response from Moscow. Addressing lawmakers in StPetersburg Putin said: “If anyone would want to interfere with what’s happening in Ukraine now, from the outside, they have to know Russia’s response will be swift and fast.”
Talking of “tools the west cannot obtain” Putin stated clearly: “We will use them if need be and I want everyone to know that.”
This article is part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. This article reflects only the author’s view. The action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament's grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action.
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