Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Moscow is ready 'to switch on' the Nord Stream II pipeline 'tomorrow' to deliver gas to Europe if the EU gives a green light.
Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin said it only takes pressing a button to put Nord Stream into operation.
He added that the construction of the pipeline was not 'for nothing,' because Russia mastered technologies and acquired new skills.
The same thing is true about the Nord Stream I pipeline, it can be put into operation very quickly, he said.
Russian energy company Gazprom is waiting for the gas pumping turbine to resume deliveries, he added.
'Give us the turbine -- tomorrow we will turn on Nord Stream,' he said.
The Russian president refuted accusations of 'energy blackmail,' saying Ukraine closed one line of the gas pipeline, pumping fuel to Europe 'under a far-fetched excuse.'
Poland sanctioned another Russian pipeline, which led to the situation where only one gas pipeline -- Nord Stream I -- remained in operation, he added.
Russia will seek new sales markets in Asia, Putin said.
At the moment there is progress regarding deliveries to China and Mongolia, with the sides having agreed on all major parameters, including prices, he said.
- 'Absolutely stupid'
Putin called 'absolutely stupid' the EU and US plans to cap Russian oil prices.
'Absolutely stupid decision, if someone tries to implement it, it will not lead to anything good for those who make this decision,' he warned.
Russia supplies energy resources under contracts, there are binding contractual obligations, which Moscow is ready to fulfill in full.
'And if any decisions of a political nature are made that contradict the contracts, we will simply not fulfill them. (...) We will not supply anything at all if it contradicts our interests -- in this case, economic ones,' he said.
He said that those who are trying to impose unfavorable conditions on Russia 'are not in a position today to dictate their will.'
'It is better to adhere to contractual obligations, relevant rules and civilized relations,' he said.
Earlier this week, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that the work is ongoing aiming to limit the maximum cost of Russian gas entering the EU through pipelines.
Meanwhile, the G7 countries are discussing the possibility of setting an upper limit price for Russian oil.
The finance ministers of the G7 countries announced last week that they had agreed to introduce a price ceiling. It is planned to be introduced simultaneously with the EU embargo, on oil -- from Dec. 5, 2022, on petroleum products -- from Feb. 2023.
What the price will be has not yet been announced.
By Elena Teslova
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr