Putin Warns EU Gas Exclusion Will Spike Costs, Confirms Arctic Talks with US
At the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin warned that Western efforts to exclude Russia from the global gas market will raise costs for European consumers. He confirmed ongoing discussions with US envoy Steve Witkoff regarding potential joint energy projects in the Arctic, noting that European partners previously worked in these fields alongside Russia. Putin stated that Russia has supplied $320.7 billion in energy resources to the EU since 2022, despite a drop in pipeline imports from 45% in 2021 to 19% in 2025. Deputy PM Alexander Novak highlighted that seaborne LNG has partially offset pipeline losses. Meanwhile, Egyptian officials at the same summit emphasized the need for global cooperation to stabilize gas markets and protect energy infrastructure, while Iran used the platform to criticize Western unilateral sanctions.