Putin says Russia isn’t using energy as a “weapon” as it halts the Europe Gas Pipeline.

A few days after stopping the flow of natural gas through a crucial pipeline to Europe, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday refuted accusations that Moscow was using energy as a “weapon.”
“According to them, Russia employs energy as a weapon. Added nonsense! Which weapon do we operate? In response to requests, we provide as much as necessary, “Putin said at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, a Pacific port city.

The Nord Stream pipeline, scheduled to resume this weekend after three days of maintenance, will remain closed while repairs are made, the Russian gas giant Gazprom announced Friday.

According to the Kremlin, sanctions have prevented the return of a Siemens turbine that was being repaired in Canada.

We just need to hit a button and be ready to do this tomorrow. However, sanctions were not enacted by us, Putin continued.

Putin referred to any potential price cap on Russian natural gas as “another foolishness” and “another non-market solution with no possibilities.”

Putin stated that European nations are free to forego their competitive advantages and that Russia is willing to work with “any country.”

The EU has charged Moscow with using energy as blackmail.