(Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that it was impossible for some European countries to quickly abandon Russian oil, as the European Union wants.
EU members are negotiating a proposed oil embargo on Russia over the Ukrainian conflict, but talks broke down this week after a veto by Hungary, highly dependent on Russian oil imports.
“It is obvious that some states of the European Union, whose share of Russian hydrocarbons in the energy balance is particularly high, will not be able to do without our oil for a long time,” Vladimir Putin said. .
Speaking in a televised meeting with oil officials and government officials, he also said Western sanctions and a possible embargo on Russian oil had caused world oil prices to rise.
He added that by abandoning Russian energy supplies, Europe risked paying the most expensive tariffs in the world in the long run, while the competitiveness of its industry would be undermined.
He also said Western sanctions had fueled inflation in Europe itself.
“There are tectonic changes in the oil market, and doing business as before, according to the old model, seems unlikely,” conceded Vladimir Putin, adding that it was important to establish a complete oil chain. producer the final buyer.
He promised state aid to national oil producers, notably by facilitating access to loans and insurance.
(Reuters report, French version Lou Phily)