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Russia warned on Friday that it would redirect liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other energy exports to new markets as the European Union maintains its timeline to phase out Russian supplies, despite recent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continuing to weigh on supply security.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow would prioritize markets with stronger demand if European demand continues to decline. He said Russia would act in line with its own economic interests and shift focus where energy resources are needed most.
Peskov also criticized the EU’s policy stance, arguing that European governments are undermining their own economic position by reducing reliance on Russian energy.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed on Thursday that the bloc remains committed to ending Russian LNG imports, rejecting calls to reconsider the plan despite rising energy costs.
She also ruled out allowing EU countries to resume purchases of Russian gas even in the event of power outages caused by energy shortages, saying the bloc would continue shifting toward domestically produced renewable energy.
The EU aims to halt Russian LNG imports by the end of 2026 and fully stop pipeline gas imports by Sept. 30, 2027.
Before the war in Ukraine, Russia supplied more than 40% of Europe’s gas. By 2025, combined pipeline gas and LNG from Russia accounted for 13% of total EU imports.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier suggested that Moscow could cut supplies ahead of the EU’s deadline, raising risks to Europe’s energy security.
Since Feb. 28, Iran has struck eight major energy facilities across five Arab countries, causing fires, damage, and temporary production halts, with some sites declaring force majeure.
In attacks on Thursday to retaliate for Israel’s airstrike on the South Pars gas field, a missile hit Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, which accounts for about one-fifth of global LNG supply, including supplies to Europe.
QatarEnergy CEO Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi said the damage cut export capacity by 17%, could cost around $20 billion annually and might take up to five years to repair.
Following the attack, European natural gas prices at the Dutch TTF hub surged above €70 ($80.15) per megawatt-hour before steadying around €60, still more than double pre-conflict levels. According to the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, natural gas storage across the bloc remains below 30%.
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