Russia denies cutting off gas to Finland
A Kremlin spokesman called the news that Russia cut off gas to Finland from May 13 a “hoax”, saying Moscow had no such plan.
“Gazprom supplies gas to many customers in Europe, including NATO member countries. Gazprom has repeatedly demonstrated its reliability as a company supplying energy to Europe. , information like this is most likely just a hoax,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on May 13, when asked about information that Russia plans to cut gas to Finland.
Peskov stressed that he had not received any information about the possibility of stopping gas supplies to Finland and only mentioned the request to pay for Russian gas in rubles.
“It is necessary to clarify information on the payment mechanism of Gazprom because President Putin has issued a decree on a new gas payment mechanism in rubles. I do not know how Finnish companies pay and whether they do it. according to the new regulations or not,” added the Kremlin spokesman.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in Moscow, Russia, on February 18. Image: Reuters.
Sheet Iltalehti of Finland on May 12, citing unnamed sources, said that the country’s politicians have been warned that Russia can cut gas a day later. Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen said he could not confirm this information.
A spokesman for Gasgrid Finland, which operates the Nordic nation’s gas supply system, said there were no signs of any disruption to the flow of gas from the Nordic country. Russia. However, Finland’s emergency preparedness committee also confirmed that it was ready to deal with the possibility of Russia cutting off gas.
Finland imports most of its gas from Russia, but this fuel accounts for only about 5% of the country’s total annual energy consumption. However, if Russia cuts off gas, companies in the agriculture, forestry and food sectors will have to find alternative sources or adjust production.
In addition to the pipeline connecting to Russia, Finland’s gas supply network also connects to Europe via the BalticConnector pipeline, which runs from the country to Estonia.
President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin on May 12 announced that “Finland must submit an application to join NATO immediately”. Russia warned it was ready to respond to this move and would consider Finland and neighboring Sweden as “attack target” if they join NATO.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in Moscow, Russia, on February 18. Image: Reuters.
Ngoc Anh (According to TASS)
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