Putin Warns Russia May Halt Gas Supplies to Europe, Blames 'Aggression Against Iran' for Surging Gas Prices
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Wednesday that the widening war involving the United States, Israel and Iran could push Europe into a deeper energy crisis, suggesting Moscow might even halt gas supplies to the continent as global prices surge. Speaking at the Kremlin on March 4 after meeting Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, Putin told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin that the widening Middle East conflict had intensified volatility in oil and gas markets and was forcing energy buyers to compete for supplies.
“Both oil and gas prices have really risen,” Putin said, adding that the surge was partly linked to sanctions on Russian energy but also to “everything happening in the Middle East with the aggression against Iran.”
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| Image Via: Official Channel |
“Customers have emerged who are willing to buy the same natural gas at higher prices… due to events in the Middle East, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and so on,” he said. “Some traditional suppliers, such as the Americans, will certainly leave the European market for those who pay more. This is natural — just business.”
Putin used the remarks to criticise European energy policy, arguing that the continent’s leaders had worsened their own vulnerability by restricting Russian gas imports.
He noted that European authorities are preparing further limits on Russian liquefied natural gas deliveries beginning in April and potentially a complete ban by 2027.
Moscow, he suggested, may instead shift its energy exports to “reliable partners” in other markets if Europe continues tightening restrictions.
“Perhaps it’s more advantageous for us to stop supplying the European market right now and move to markets that are opening up,” Putin said, adding that he would instruct the Russian government to study such options.
The Russian president’s comments came amid broader diplomatic activity around the Iran war. In a separate phone call on March 2 with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Kremlin said both leaders expressed “serious concern” about the escalating conflict triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
Putin emphasised the “urgent need” to resolve the crisis through political and diplomatic means, while the Saudi crown prince suggested Russia could play a “stabilising role” because of its ties with both Iran and Gulf states.
Russia’s foreign ministry has also stepped up coordination with Tehran. On March 3, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and condemned what Moscow described as “unprovoked military aggression” by the United States and Israel. Lavrov reiterated Russia’s position that the conflict must be resolved through diplomacy and warned of serious consequences for the wider Middle East.
The Kremlin-linked Shanghai Cooperation Organization issued a statement the same day echoing that stance, saying member states considered the use of force against Iran unacceptable and calling on all sides to exercise restraint and respect international law.
Separately, Russia said it was monitoring a maritime security incident linked to the broader geopolitical tensions. The foreign ministry confirmed that the Russian gas tanker Arctic Metagaz was attacked in the Mediterranean on March 3.
According to spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, all 30 crew members were rescued, though two suffered burns. Moscow alleged the attack was carried out by Ukrainian unmanned boats and warned that such actions posed a serious threat to international maritime security and energy infrastructure.
The developments come as the Iran war continues to reverberate through global energy markets and diplomatic alliances. With oil prices rising, shipping routes under strain and multiple world powers scrambling to protect supply chains, the Kremlin’s statements show that the conflict is rapidly reshaping the geopolitical landscape far beyond the Middle East battlefield.