German energy firm E.ON joined the long list of companies choosing to distance themselves from Russia by announcing the cancelation of new gas purchases on Wednesday.
While the company does not have long-term supply contracts with any Russian producers, E.ON buys small gas quantities from Gazprom's trading companies in Europe.
'In view of the war in Ukraine, we have stopped procuring new amounts from these companies,' Chief Executive Leonhard Birnbaum said during E.ON's annual news conference.
'The war of aggression against Ukraine is a terrible reversion to dark times. We condemn war and violence and fully support the European Union’s sanctions,' Birnbaum said.
He added that Europe needs to diversify its energy imports.
E.ON currently has a 15.5% stake in Nord Stream 1, the pipeline that carries Russian gas to Germany.
The company's adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose to about €7.9 billion in 2021, and its adjusted net income increased by 53% to around €2.5 billion last year.
€1 equals 16.16 Turkish liras
Reporting by Bahattin Gonultas in Berlin
Writing by Zeynep Beyza Kilic
Anadolu Agency
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