Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday gave the green light to the supply of Russian gas to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan, at a time when the Russian gas sector is affected by sanctions imposed by the West after the Russian offensive in Ukraine, AFP and Agerpres write.
“Permission has been granted,” said the Russian president, who was in the company of his Uzbek and Kazakh counterparts Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev, who arrived at his residence near Moscow for a solemn launch ceremony broadcast via video conference.
The ceremony took place on the day when the head of the Kremlin turns 71.
Launched on Saturday, the project, the “largest trilateral energy project” between Russia and the two former Soviet republics in Central Asia, will allow oil-rich Uzbekistan to get an “additional source of energy” and Kazakhstan will be able to solve the gas problem in the northern and eastern regions of the country, Putin explained, adding that “Russia will once again be able to confirm its status as a reliable supplier of natural gas.”
AFP notes that Russia’s gas sector has been hit hard by European and US sanctions, with Russian gas exports falling 25.1% in 2022, according to official figures, in a context in which the EU, once the No. 1 customer, has sharply lost its cuts imports after the Russian invasion of Ukraine last February.
____
- Follow the latest events of the war in Ukraine LIVETEXT on HotNews.ro
Source: Hot News
James Springer is a renowned author and opinion writer, known for his bold and thought-provoking articles on a wide range of topics. He currently works as a writer at 247 news reel, where he uses his unique voice and sharp wit to offer fresh perspectives on current events. His articles are widely read and shared and has earned him a reputation as a talented and insightful writer.