Putin Denies Using Gas Supply As Political ‘Weapon'

Vladimir Putin said yesterday that Russia was not using gas as a “weapon” and insisted he was ready to help Europe as it faces an energy crisis.

- Tom Ambrose

The Russian president made the comments as the European Union called an emergency summit to help tackle skyrocketing prices, and the International Energy Agency (IEA) urged a tripling of investment in renewables to steady markets and fight climate change.

Europe’s gas crisis has highlighted the fact that Russia accounts for a third of the region’s supplies, prompting European politicians to blame Moscow for not pumping enough.