Russia accuses EU of using energy resources as 'blackmailing' tool

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko on Wednesday accused the EU of using energy resources as a blackmailing tool against Moscow.

"Now they resort to energy blackmail. It is obvious that such blackmail fundamentally affects their (EU) interests. There is one country that is happy about it, (and) it is the USA. Using someone else's hands, they are improving their positions in the global energy markets," Grushko told reporters in Moscow.

"Cooperation in the gas sector is a unique thing. ... It has been developing with the countries of Western Europe for decades, taken out from the ideological contradictions. There was a cold war, (there were) hot wars, and NATO bombed Yugoslavia. But it never occurred to anyone to use gas cooperation as an instrument of political or economic pressure," the diplomat said.

If the EU authorities were "smarter," they would be interested in maintaining the energy sector out of politics as long as possible, Grushko stressed.

He warned that the demand for gas would rise, and cautioned that the EU is acting to its own disadvantage with statements on refusing Russian gas, leading to an increase in energy prices for European people, and making them pay for the mistakes of political leaders.

However, there are certain governments that approach the issue of energy supplies pragmatically, and Russia will continue to cooperate with such countries, he said.

The EU is considering further sanctions against Russia's energy industry in response to the situation in Ukraine, with the goal of prohibiting the delivery of energy resources such as oil, gas, and coal.

The Russia-Ukraine war, which started on Feb. 24, has drawn international outrage, with the EU, US, and Britain, among others, implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.

At least 1,563 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 2,213 injured, according to UN estimates, with the true figure feared to be far higher.

More than 4.27 million Ukrainians have fled to other countries, with millions more internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency.